ARMSTRONG'S PRIMER 



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UNITED STATES HISTORY 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 



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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



DISCOVERIES. 



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RUSSELL & STRUTHEH'..N.r. 



ARMSTRONGS 



PRIMER 



United States History 



SCHOOL AND FAMILY USE. 



WITH MAPS. 






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NEW YORK : 

A. C. ARMSTRONG & SON, 

714 Broadway. 

1881. 

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Copyright, 

1881, 

By a. C. ARMSTRONG & SON. 



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PRESS OF J. J. LITTLE & CO., 
HOS. 10 TO 20 ASTOR PLACE, NEW YORK. 






"^ PREFACE. 






Although some decry the primer system because 
of its necessary meagreness of detail, it is conceded 
by many that the English primers of history and 
literature recently published are invaluable as form- 
ing a foundation upon which a detailed study of the 
subjects may be based. The same system has been 
followed in this Httle work. The aim of the writer 
has been to present simply and briefly, without any 
attempt at fine writing, the chief events of our coun- 
try's history, their causes and results. • 

The work has been published without pictures, for 
the reason that school-book illustration has reached 
such a high degree of perfection that an attempt 
to compete with those already in the market would 
so increase the cost of the book as to interfere with 
its general use as a text-book. It always seems 
absurd, too, to attempt to picture scenes of warfare 
when the page allows only space for a scene which 
fails utterly to give an adequate idea of the event 
illustrated. 

As the intelligent study of history depends greatly 
upon a knowledge of the local geography of the coun- 
try under consideration, carefully prepared maps have 
3 



4 Preface. 

been introduced, showing the growth of the country 

and the scenes of her wars. 

A full series of questions, classified in chapters, 
will be found at the end of the book, as it was 
thought better not to interrupt the narrative by 
their insertion at the end of each chapter. 



PRIMER 



OF 



UNITED STATES HISTORY. 



CHAPTER I. 

DISCOVERIES. 



The Northmen.— Away up in the northwest- 
ern part of Europe Hved the Northmen, or Norse, 
a people who were great sailors. They were a large, 
strong race, wearing skins of animals for robes, and 
heavy armor, and who were never content unless 
they were roving about on the sea, or destroying or 
carrying off goods belonging to the people on whose 
shores they landed. So much were they feared, and 
such fierce fighters were they, that besides Norway 
and Denmark, they got possession of part of the 
country now called France, and also of parts of Eng- 
land. 

A party of these Northmen sailed from Denmark 
- about the year 900, and in a storm was driven upon 
the shores of Iceland. Thus Iceland was found by 
chance. Some years afterward this island was set- 
tled by Danes, who made trading voyages back and 
forth from the mainland. About thirty years after 
this, Greenland was found by an Icelander who had 
sailed in a direction not usually taken ; and some of 
the Iceland people went there to live. 

One of these trading parties started for Norway, 
and the ships were separated by a storm. When 
one of them reached Norway, the leader found that 
5 



6 The Northmen. [chap. i. 

his father had sailed for Greenland. He started in 
the same direction, but another storm drove him to 
the southwest. After two or three days he found 
himself near land which he knew could not be 
Greenland, because he had been told that its shores 
were rough and covered with ice hills, and these 
shores were quite flat and covered with wood. So 
on he sailed, and although he saw land several 
times, would not allow his men to go on shore. His 
crew were very angry at this, for the voyage had 
been long, and they were tired of it ; and perhaps, 
too, they were curious to know what kind of a 
country it was that they had reached. How differ- 
ently the leader would have acted if he had known 
that these were the shores of a new world ! As it 
was, he paid no heed to their complaints, and sailed 
away, and after a few days came in sight of land 
again. This time it was indeed Greenland, and 
glad they must have been to get back to their own 
people, and tell them what they had seen. 

At last a brave captain, named Leif the Lucky, 
thought he would like to find out whether these 
stories were true, and having bought the vessel in 
which the others had made the voyage, started off 
with a small number of men, about the year looo. 
To their great surprise, the land was found just where 
it had been described. They made several landings 
before they came to a place which pleased them, 
and there they built huts in which to pass the win- 
ter. From time to time they sent out parties to 
explore the country around, and one day a man 
came back to the huts in great joy, saying that he 
had found vines and grapes. He was not believed 
at first, but the next day others went with him and 
found them. When they began to think about 
going home, they filled their ship with felled trees, 
and piled the deck with grapes. It was on account 
of the grapevines that Leif the Lucky gave the coun- 
try the name of Vinland. 



CHAP. II.] Columbus. 7 

Some years passed, and a brother of Leif named 
Thorvald, thinking that the former sailors had been 
too hasty in their return, visited Vinland, and find- 
ing the place in which the huts had been built, 
spent the winter there. In the spring his men w^ere 
attacked by strange-looking men, who shot at them 
with arrows, and then ran away as fast as they could. 
But the Norse leader was wounded so that he died, 
and this so disheartened his men that they went 
back to Greenland. 

Of course these men talked a great deal about 
Vinland, and told wonderful stories about the beauty 
of the country and its pleasant climate ; for, no 
doubt, even the cold of winter was not as severe as 
these hardy people were used to bear in their own 
country. Several other companies were tempted to 
go to Vinland, and tried to found a colony ; but some 
were attacked by Indians, against whose arrows the 
armor of the Northmen was a poor defense ; and 
others quarreled with their own people, and could 
not live together. Therefore, as they were not 
strong enough to live apart, they were forced to 
give up the idea of settling. 

It is supposed that Leif the Lucky landed at 
Labrador, and then at other places on the coast, 
until he got as far south as Massachusetts ; and 
that it was here his party stayed. Others went to 
Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Rhode Island. 
But their discoveries did no good, except to satisfy 
their love of adventure ; and if it were not for 
their own legends, it would be difficult to believe 
that they ever came to our country. 



CHAPTER IL 

DISCOVERIES CONTINUED 

Columbus. — Thus you see that the discoveries 
of the brave Norsemen were useless, because nobody 



8 Columbus. [chap. ii. 

but themselves knew anything about them. There 
were no newspapers in those days to tell people 
what was being done all over the world, nor did 
people travel about then as they do now. Nearly 
five hundred years had passed away before anybody 
else found his way to the new world ; and then it 
was not thought to be a new world, but a part of 
the old world, only reached in another way. But, 
during these five hundred years, great changes had 
taken place in Europe. 

When the great Roman empire was destroyed by 
the fierce tribes that rushed in upon it, scarcely any 
one paid any attention to the study of geography, and 
the arts and sciences, as they had done before that 
time. Now the countries along the Mediterranean 
Sea began to trade with one another, and to grow 
wealthy. Of course, the merchants must have trav- 
eled back and forth, and in that way they came to 
know not only the people of other countries, but 
also to learn many things that they did not know 
before. Among other things that they learned was 
the art of 3ailing ships. Great improvement was 
made in ship-building. The mariner's compass had 
been invented, and sailors did not have to depend 
upon the stars to steer by. 

The peopl-e of Western Europe were trying to 
make use of this nsw knowledge by finding a way 
to India by sailing around Africa, instead of mak- 
ing the long, tedious journey that they had hitherto 
been forced to make overland. At this time a great 
man appeared, who found, as he thought, a short 
road to India, but who really gave to Europe a new 
world. 

Christopher Columbus, or Colon, was born in 
Genoa, in 1447. His father was a carder of wool ; 
but several of his family were sailors, and with 
them the boy spent his early years. These men 
hired themselves to any country that would pay 
them for fighting ; or, if that failed, they attacked 



CHAP. II.] Columbus. 9 

vessels whose cargoes were at all valuable, and took 
away what they could. Thus Columbus learned to 
manage a ship, and to govern a crew. In a battle 
off the coast of Spain the ship in which he sailed 
was set on fire, and the sailors were compelled to 
swim for their lives. Columbus reached Lisbon, 
where there were many of his countrymen, who re- 
ceived him kindly. Here he married the daughter 
of a famous sailor, who owned many charts and 
books about the art of sailing, which afterward be- 
came his own property. 

From these, and from what he knew before, Co- 
lumbus made up his mind that the world was 
round, but smaller than people thought ; and that 
the shortest way to India would be to take a v\est- 
erly direction. For eighteen years he worked hard 
to make men believe that this could be done. 
They were afraid to trust the western seas, which 
they had always- believed to be full of dangers. 
And, besides, for many years they had thought that 
the earth was flat, and could not beHeve anything 
else. 

First, Columbus went to his native city, and 
offered to go in search of this wonderful India, and 
if found it should belong to Genoa ; but he was 
too poor to go without help, and this help the Geno- 
ese refused. Then he went to John II. of Portugal, 
and he was almost on the point of giving him the 
needed afd ; but the wise men of his kingdom per- 
suaded him not to do it. Then he went to Spain, 
where he made many good friends, who did all they 
could to induce Ferdinand and Isabella, the king 
and queen, to help him. At last, when he had 
made up his mind to give up trying in Spain, and 
go to England and France, Isabella decided to help 
him. Three vessels were procured, the Sa7ita Maria, 
the Finta, and the Nina. The Santa Maria was 
commanded by Columbus ; the Finta and the Niiia 
by two brothers named Pinzon. These two were 



10 Columbus. [chap. ii. 

small vessels, and not one; of them was strong 
enough for a very long voyage. 

On the 3d of August, 1492, Columbus sailed from 
Palos, and steered for the Canary Islands, where he 
was obliged to stop and repair his vessels. Then 
he started on his way across the unknown ocean. 
As none of his crew had ever been very far from 
home, you may be sure the voyage seemed very long. 
At last they lost all courage, and insisted that Colum- 
bus should go back to Spain ; but he knew well how 
to control them, and kept on his way. 

On the 1 2th of October they were all filled with 
joy at the sight of land, and soon all were on the 
shores of an island, which Columbus named San 
Salvador. But he did not see the cities and palaces, 
and the quantities of gold and precious stones that 
he thought he should find in India. When he asked 
the natives where he could find gold, they pointed 
south. Then he sailed about, in and out among the 
islands, but did not find what he sought. Mean- 
while, the Santa Maria, the largest of his vessels, 
was wrecked and lost ; and therefore he determined 
to leave part of his men upon the island to make a 
colony, while he returned to Spain, to tell what he 
had found ; for he still thought that the country 
was a part of India. 

Back he went in a wretched little vessel, that 
scarcely held together until he reached Spain. As 
soon as he arrived, he hurried to the king and queen 
to tell them of his success. Their delight knew no 
bounds ; and everywhere he was greeted as the 
greatest of men, for giving to Spain a country which 
would add so much to its wealth. They immedi- 
ately began to fit out a fleet of ships to go back 
with him ; and many people who before had laughed 
at him were now quite ready and anxious to join 
him. 

This time he took a much larger number of ships 
and people ; but when he reached Hispaniola, where 



CHAP. II.] Columbus. II 

he had left his little colony, no one was there. They 
had quarreled with the Indians, and had been killed. 
He then chose another place for a colony, and 
began building a city ; and, in the meantime, sent 
bodies of men to explore the country around, and 
find the gold and wealth he was in search of. When 
he could be spared from the colony, he too went to 
explore, and they did succeed in finding some gold. 

But the people who had come with him this time 
were angry with Columbus, for making them think 
that he had found such a rich country ; for they 
had to work very hard and then could barely live. 
They sent such complaints to Spain, that Columbus 
was forced to return, and he carried with him the 
gold and cotton which he had found. He was also 
anxious to know what the sovereigns would advise 
him to do. 

Ferdinand and Isabella decided that they would 
send more ships and people to the colony. So, in 
1498, Columbus sailed for the third time across the 
ocean. He sent some of the ships direct to His- 
paniola, and steered toward the south. After mak- 
ing several landings, he found that he had reached 
the mainland of a continent, and not an island, as 
he had done before. This was his first discovery 
of the continent of America. 

Upon his return to Hispaniola, he found that the 
people had quarreled with one another ; and some 
of his enemies had so excited the people against 
him, that they accused him of many things, and 
carried such falsehoods about him to Spain, that 
Ferdinand and Isabella sent over an agent to see if 
the accounts were true, and if true, to send Colum- 
bus to Spain. As this man too was an enemy, Colum- 
bus was sent home in chains. 

His sovereigns were very much shocked at this, 
and treated him kindly ; but they were so greatly 
influenced by his enemies that they did not give 
him back his power over the colony, and he felt 



12 Sebastian Cabot, [chap. hi. 

that they did not trust him. He afterward went on 
another voyage, but v/as shipwrecked, and suffered 
so many hardships that he died not long after, in 
1506, at ValladoUd. 



CHAPTER III. 

DISCOVERIES CONTINUED. 

Amerigo Vespucci, an ItaUan, went in 1499 
on a voyage v/ith Ojeda (who had made one voyage 
with Columbus) to the country surrounding the 
Gulf of Mexico. Afterward the King of Portugal 
gave him three ships, with which he sailed along 
and explored the coast of South America as far as 
Patagonia. When he reached home he wrote an 
account of his voyage, and said that he had been 
the first to find the mainland of the newly-found 
country ; and, although all the writers of his time 
say that the honor belongs to Columbus, the conti- 
nent was called America, from his first name, Amerigo. 

John Cabot was a Venetian, living in England, 
and he thought that if there was a western passage 
to India, it was to be found toward the north. The 
King of England (Henry VII.) gave him help in fit- 
ting out ships, and he sailed in 1497, taking a north- 
westerly course, until he came to land which, it 
is now thought, was the island of Newfoundland. 
He found the country barren and the weather cold, 
although it was July, and soon returned to England, 
taking with him three of the savage natives. 

Sebastian Cabot". — In 1498, John Cabot's son 
Sebastian made a second voyage, taking a large 
number of people to found a colony. He sailed 
along the coast for a long distance, probably from 
Labrador to Cape Hatteras, looking in vain for the 
strait which would lead him to India. He returned 
to England, and afterward, in the service of the King 



CHAP, iij.] Vasco Niines de Balboa. 13 

of France, he made a voyage, in which he sailed up 
a river which he called Rio de la Plata (meaning 
river of silver), but did not make another attempt 
to form a settlement. It was in consequence of 
the discoveries of the Cabots that England after- 
ward laid claim to the greater portion of the North 
American continent. 

Ponce de Leon, in the year 15 12, left the 
island of Porto Rico, of which he was governor, to 
go in search of a land where, the natives told him, 
he would find not only gold and precious stones in 
abundance, but w^here there were streams whose 
waters gave endless youth to those who drank of or 
bathed in them. He landed on the coast of a 
country which he called Florida. But it was in 
vain that he wandered through the country, tasting 
and bathing in every stream that flowed through the 
woods ; for, instead of living in endless youth, he 
died not long after from the poison of an Indian's 
arrow. 

Vasco Nunez de Balboa, from the colony at 
Hispaniola, sailed in 15 13 with a party of explorers 
down the coast of Mexico, to the isthmus which con- 
nects North and South America. There he learned 
that, at the end of a six days' journey, there was 
another sea, and a land where there were such quan- 
tities of gold that the people ate and drank from 
dishes made of it. Fighting their way through 
tribes of fierce Indians, his people came at last to a 
mountain, beyond which, the guides said, was the 
sea. Balboa ordered his men to follow, and climbed 
to the top. With great delight at his discovery of 
a new ocean, which from its calmness he at once 
named the Pacific, he took possession of the coun- 
try in the name of Ferdinand of Spain. He then 
hastened down the other side of the mountain slope, 
and when he reached the water, waded in, and de- 
clared that it and everything upon it, should belong 
to his sovereign. 



14 Cartier. [chap. hi. 

Ferdinand Magellan, a Portuguese, wanted 
the King of Portugal to give him a fleet, with which 
he might go in search of a westward route to the 
Molucca and Spice Islands, that would be shorter 
than the passage around the Cape of Good Hope, 
which sailors then used. For some reason the king 
refused, and Magellan went to Spain, where Charles 
V. granted his request. This, you see, was the sec- 
ond time that Portugal refused to a great explorer 
and navigator the help that Spain gave, and so lost 
the honor of discoveries which might have been 
hers. 

In 1520 he sailed down the coast of South Amer- 
ica, looking for a strait that would carry him across 
the continent, but found none until he came to that 
which he called after his own name. He sailed 
through this, and came to the longed-for Southern 
Sea. But he found himself farther from the islands 
than he thought, for he sailed toward the north- 
west for nearly four months before he reached land. 
This proved to be one of a group of islands which 
he called die Ladrones. He afterward discovered 
the Philippine Islands. Here Magellan died ; but 
his party chose another leader and sailed on, touched 
at some of the islands in the Indian Ocean, sailed 
round the Cape of Good Hope, and up the coast of 
Africa, and at last landed in Spain, having sailed 
around the globe in a little more than three years. 

Verazzani. — About the year 1524 the northern 
part of the eastern coast of the American continent 
was explored for France by Verazzani. He took 
back such accounts of the good fishing that the Ad- 
miral of France thought it would be well to found 
a colony. 

Cartier. — In 1534 Jacques Cartier was sent with 
about a hundred men to found this colony. He 
sailed to Newfoundland, but was disappointed to 
find that island and the mainland near it barren and 
rocky. He took possession of the country in the 



CHAP. III.] Ferdinand de Soto, 15 

name of France ; and then, after sailing up the 
St, Lawrence River some distance, went back to 
France, taking with him two sons of an Indian chief, 
whom he promised to bring back the next year. 

When he returned, he sailed up the St. Lawrence 
to the Saguenay, and afterward to an Indian settle- 
ment, to which he gave the name Montreal. The 
Indians vv^ere very friendly, and the two boys whom 
he had taken to France helped him very much in 
talking with them. After his return to the settle- 
ment many of his men became ill and died, and 
Cartier took those who were left back to France. 
Although he was sent with another party in 1541, no 
colony was founded, and France made no other 
attempt in North America until 1562, and then a 
place was chosen in Florida, where the climate was 
milder, the land more fertile, and everything more 
attractive than in Newfoundland. 

Ferdinand de Soto, who, although he had 
gained great wealth with Pizarro, in Peru, was anx- 
ious for more gold, sailed from Cuba in 1539, and 
landed on the western coast of Florida. Several 
parties had gone to Florida and failed ; but he 
thought that in the interior parts of this country, as 
well as in other portions of the new world, precious 
metals might be found. On his way inland he met 
a Spaniard who had been taken captive by the In- 
dians some years before, and he was of great use as 
a guide and interpreter. The party, learning where 
gold was to be found, went northward. They forced 
the tribes of Indians which they met to give them 
food and be their servants, and were so cruel that 
often the Indians, knowing very well by this time 
what the white men wanted, w^ould tell them to go 
in this direction or that, just to get rid of them. 
Their next course was westward, as far as the Indian 
village of Mavilla, now the city of Mobile ; then 
north again, and at last they came to and crossed 
the great river, the Mississippi. But, before they 



1 6 Virginia. [chap. iv. 

could find gold and a place to settle in, De Soto 
died. After his death, his followers decided to re- 
turn to Cuba. They felled trees for timber, ham- 
mered chains, stirrups, and everything else of iron 
that they possessed into nails, and built small ves- 
sels, in which they sailed down the river, fighting as 
they went with the Indians, who feared and hated 
them, and were glad to see them going away. 

Although these men had been through great dan- 
gers, although many of their companions had died 
from want of food and other causes, and although 
they had utterly failed in what they went to do, yet 
they carried to the people in the older colonies such 
an account of a great country yet to be explored, that 
another party went to explore it. But this met with 
a like fate, and the Spaniards did not try again to 
settle north of the Gulf of Mexico. 



CHAPTER IV. 

SETTLEMENTS. 

PART /. — Virginia^ North and South Carolina. — 
1607-1670. 

England had not forgotten the north-western 
passage to India, and several expeditions went to 
look for it. The failure of these caused England 
to send an expedition to discover a north-eastern 
passage. This also failed. Then the north-western 
was tried again^ and in 1587 John Davis went as far 
as Baffin's Bay, but could go no farther because of 
the ice. 

At this time Sir Humphrey Gilbert thought that 
it would be a good plan to send colonies to the New 
World, and make it a part of England ; for he was 
afraid that Spain, then an enemy of England, might 
become powerful in the northern as she had already 
become in the southern part of the continent. 



I 



DURING FRENCH ANDINDI/^ 

SCALE OF MILES 




Augustine 




RUSSELL dt STRurHtrtS,N.Y 



CHAP. IV.] Virginia, 17 

In 1578 he received a charter from EHzabeth 
which gave him the right to discover, and have for 
his own, any lands not owned by any other sover- 
eign. He sailed in 1583 with a large company, intend- 
ing to settle somewhere between the St. Lawrence 
and Florida. After landing at St. Johns he started 
southward, but soon found himself in a fearful storm, 
which forced him out to sea ; so he Vvcnt back to 
England, meaning to return the next year for silver, 
and to plant a colony. But the vessel in which he 
sailed was lost, and the carrying out of his design 
was left to his famous half-brother, Sir Walter 
Raleigh. 

Raleigh obtained a patent from the queen, and 
sent out a colony under Amadas and Barlow. They 
returned with the report of a land abounding in 
fruits and trees and fish and maize, which so pleased 
the queen that she called the country Virginia. 
Several attempts to found a colony here were unsuc- 
cessful. 

An expedition in 1602, under Gosnold, arrived off 
Cape Cod, and then sailed southward, touched at 
Martha's Vineyard, which they named (because, like 
Leif the Lucky, they had found a land of grapes) ; 
then explored the mainland, where they would have 
stayed, but that their stores gave out, and they were 
obliged to go back to England. But Gosnold was 
in part the means of causing two companies, known 
as the London and Plymouth Companies, to be 
formed in 1606, for the purpose of planting colonies. 
The colonies of the London Company could settle- 
between the 34th and 38th degrees of latitude, and 
those of the Plymouth Company between the 41st 
and 45th degrees. 

Virginia. — The first permanent English settle- 
ment was made under the London Company in Vir- 
ginia, in 1607. The colony, numbering about one 
hundred men, entered the Chesapeake Bay on the 
26th of April, and landed on its southern shore at a 



1 8 Virginia. [chap. iv. 

point which they called Cape Henry. After they 
had opened their sealed packet of instructions, and 
found out who their governor was to be, they spent 
several days in loolcing for the best place on which 
to settle, and at last decided upon a place on the 
James River, and called it Jamestoitm. 

Not long after their village was built and their 
forts put up, they became dissatisfied with their 
governor, Wingfield, and appointed John Smith in 
his place. Smith traded with the Indians for corn, 
meat, and other food ; for the colonists would not 
try to raise any for themselves. He made journeys 
into the country, and during one of them was taken 
prisoner, and came very near losing his life. When 
he got back to Jamestown he found the colony in 
confusion, and the people, discouraged, preparing to 
go back to England, Just then Newport came from 
England with food and supplies, and the people 
gave up the idea of going home. The help that he 
brought did not last long, for they, did not take any 
pains to provide for themselves ; and in 1609, when 
a fleet arrwed bringing more people and food, the 
colonists were in such a starving state, the settle- 
ment was in such disorder, and the Indians so trou- 
blesome that their leader thought the best thing to 
do was to leave the place altogether. They were 
just about doing so when Lord de la Ware appeared 
with a fleet to take command of the colony. 

He rebuilt the fort, made peace with the Indians, 
and from this time the affairs of the colony were 
more prosperous. The next governor gave each man 
an amount of land, and made him cultivate it or 
starve. Tobacco began to be cultivated in 1616 ; 
and before long the governor was obliged to limit 
the amount of land on which one man could raise 
tobacco, or there would have been no land left on 
which to grow corn, so well did the tobacco pay the 
planters. 

Still larger tracts of land were given by the king to 



CHAP. IV.] Virginia. 1 9 

the company, and still more people v.-ere sent over 
to cultivate it. In 16 19 a Dutch vessel brought some 
negroes from Guinea in Africa, whom the richer 
planters bought, and thus negro slavery was begun. 
In the same year the governor ordered that the peo- 
ple should appoint men to meet with the governor 
and council to make laws for the colony. But 
these laws had to be approved by the company in 
London before the people were obliged to obey 
them. Thus, after many difficulties, the first Eng- 
lish colony was firmly established in America. 

In 1642 Sir William Berkeley was appointed gov- 
ernor, and he ruled the cclcny wisely for ten years, 
during which time its laws were improved and the 
colony grew in num.bers, until, in 1646, there were 
twenty thousand people in Virginia. And yet, 
meanwhile, England was in great trouble on account 
of civil war, which naturally affected the colony 
somewhat. The colcny, too, was attacked by Indi- 
ans, and lost about three hundred m.en. 

On the death of Charles I. Virginia proclaimed 
Charles II. king ; and Cromwell, who was at the 
head of the government, determiined to make the 
colony submit to the Parliament, Ke forbade all 
ships to enter its harbors, and forced the people to 
send all their products to England, and sent over a 
ship of war to carry out these measures. Affairs 
were settled peacefully, however, and Virginia sub- 
mitted. But great was the disappointment of the 
people when, after all, Charles II. became king, to 
find that he also did great damage to the trade of 
the colonies, by taxing them and compelling them to 
send all their tobacco to England, where they did 
not get the highest price for it. He gave away the 
lands of the colony to his friends without making 
any compensation to the planters. 

The government becam.e so harsh and severe in 
other ways that finally the people rebelled, and took 
up arms, under Nathaniel Bacon, against Governor 



20 South Carolina. [chap. iv. 

Berkeley. Berkeley was at last compelled to leave 
Jamestown, and the rebels burned it. But Berkeley 
regained power, restored order, and hanged the lead- 
ers of the revolt. In 1675 the king appointed Lord 
Culpepper governor for life ; but he governed so 
badly and cruelly that the king removed him and 
appointed some one else. 

North Carolina. — The northern part of the 
country, extending from the 30th to the 36th degree 
of latitude, called Carolina, had been settled in two 
or three places by Virghiians, and also by some 
Puritans from New England. In 1663 Lord Clar- 
endon and others received a grant, and the work of 
founding a colony really began. The owners of the 
land taxed the people so highly and gave them such 
bad governors that they rebelled and chose their 
own governor. Although they did not keep this 
power long, they showed by their conduct that 
they would not submit to injustice. Then better 
governors were appointed, and the colony grew pop- 
ulous and strong. Their greatest trouble arose from 
the Indians, and these they finally succeeded in 
driving out of the country. 

South Carolina.— The southern part of this 
territory was settled in 1670 by a colony from the 
northern part, which devoted itself to planting, and 
as the heat of the southern summers was too severe 
for English laborers, African slaACs were brought 
into the colony in larger numbers than ever before. 
Many people, too, from Holland, England, and the 
south of France came to this fertile country, and the 
colony grew very rapidly. Like their northern 
neighbors they rebelled against their bad governors, 
and like them carried on a successful war against 
the Indians. 

At first all Carolina was under one government ; 
but in 1729 a division was made at the Cape Fear 
River, and two distinct provinces formed. 



\ 



CHAP. IV.] Massachusetts. 21 

CHAPTER IN .—Co7itimied. 

PART II. — Massachusetts., Connecticut,- Rhode Is- 
tand, and New Hampshire. — 1 620-1 636. 

Massachusetts.— In the reign of James I. of 
England, a number of the English people were dis- 
satisfied with the church established by law, and set 
up a church for themselves. But they were very 
badly treated by those who belonged to the Church 
of England. In order to be able to worship God 
as they pleased, many of them went to Holland, 
where they lived for some years, calling themselves 
Pilgrims because they had no fixed home. 

When these people heard of the great tracts of 
land to be had in America, they determined upon ■ 
going to a country where they could be free to wor- 
ship as they chose, and yet keep up the habits and 
manners of their own country. 

Accordingly, a party went from Holland in the 
Speedwell to Southampton, where they were joined 
by the Mayflower, with a party from London ; and 
together they sailed in the month of September, 
1620. The Speedwell was compelled to return to 
port, not being strong enough for the voyage, and 
the Mayflower alone came in sight of Cape Cod in 
November. The place for a settlement was chosen 
on the 2ist of December, and the party went to 
work to build their homes. During this winter the 
colony suffered many hardships. Most of its peo- 
ple were sick, and many died ; food was scarce, and 
they had no means of getting more. But in the fol- 
lowing spring, some friendly Indians showed them 
how to plant and raise Indian corn, and made trea- 
ties for them with some of the powerful chiefs of the 
country. In 1628 a colony arrived, and settled at 
Salem, on Massachusetts Bay ; and when it was 
decided that the colony should govern itself, still 
more people came from Holland and England, and 



22 Massachusetts. [chap. iv. 

by the year 1630 there were settlements from Cape 
Ann to Plymouth. 

They chose for their first governor Johnl^^in- 
throp, and passed very strict laws ; so strict, that 
many of the people were obliged to leave the older 
colonies and form new ones. For, although the 
Massachusetts Bay colony was made up of men who 
had left their homes because they wanted freedom, 
they were not willing that any should live among 
them who did not think just as they did. 

One of these who differed from them in opinion 
was Roger Williams, the minister of Salem, who so 
openly opposed some of the laws which the court 
had made about religion that he was banished from 
the colony, and went alone into the Indian country. 
He was kindly received by the Indians, whose part 
he had taken when the government would have 
imposed upon them; and in 1636 he, with a few 
friends who had joined him, bought a tract of land 
from the Indians, and made a settlement which he 
called Providence. Many others who found them- 
selves unable to remain in the colonies in Massa- 
chusetts, went to Williams ; and in 1641 a chief of 
the Narragansetts gave them Rhode Island, and a 
colony was established, where perfect religious free- 
dom was granted to every one. 

Meantime, as the settlements around Massachu- 
setts Bay were rapidly growing, parties left them and 
went inland. Settlements were thus made at New 
Haven, and at Windsor and Hartford, in Connecti- 
cut. New Hampshire had been settled in 1622 by 
the English, who had gone there for the purpose of 
trading, and later by some people from Massachu- 
setts ; but in 1641 the settlements asked to be taken 
under the government of Massachusetts, and so re- 
mained until 1679, when New Hampshire was made 
a separate province. 



CHAP, v.] New York, 23 

CHAPTER V. 

SETTLEMENTS — CONTINUED. 

PART I. — New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. 
— 1609-1634. 

New York. — While Spain was growing rich by 
her colonies in South America, and while England 
was sending ship after ship to find the western pass- 
age to the Indies, a small nation was rising to 
power. 

Holland had been dependent upon Spain ; but by 
the end of the sixteenth century it had fought itself 
free, and was one of the first countries in Europe. 
Nearly all the trade with the East Indies was car- 
ried on in the ships of the Dutch East India Com- 
pany, which sailed around the Cape of Good Hope. 
About the year 1600 they tried to find a north-east 
passage, and failed. 

In 1609 Henry Hudson, an Englishman, sailed 
from Amsterdam, in a small vessel called the Half 
Moon, to find this north-eastern passage. Finding 
his way blocked with ice, Hudson steered for the 
west, hoping he might find a passage across the 
western continent to the Indian Ocean. In about 
two weeks he was opposite the coast of Newfound- 
land. Steering south, he sailed as far as Delaware 
Bay ; then turning, sailed north until he came to a 
beautiful harbor, which he entered just at nightfall. 
The next morning he found himself in what is now 
New York Bay. 

Thinking this might be a passage across the con- 
tinent, Hudson sailed up the great river which now 
bears his name, trading as he went with the friendly 
Indians for furs and fruits, until he found that the 
river was becoming more narrow and shallow. Then 
he returned to its mouth, and soon went back to 
Europe. 



24 New York. [chap. v. 

When the Dutch heard of the rich furs that could 
be bought from the Indians, they began trading with 
them, and soon built a trading-post on Manhattan 
Island, and another further up the river. They also 
explored the country near by, one party sailing 
through Long Island Sound as far as Rhode Island, 
and another exploring inland to the Delaware River. 
In 1 62 1 the West India Company was formed, and 
sent people over to make settlements, which they 
did in several places along the river ; but, as the 
little settlements got into trouble with the Indians, 
they thought it best to make but one colony, and 
chose Manhattan Island as the best place to settle. 
This island had already received the name of New 
Amsterdam, and the surrounding country that of 
New Netherlands. 

In a few years the island w^as bought from the 
natives, and protected by a stone fort. The colony 
numbered nearly three hundred people, and carried 
on a busy trade with Holland. In 1633 the Dutch 
purchased land near Hartford, on the Connecticut 
River, and built a fort, which was afterward given 
up to the more powerful English, who had several 
settlements on the river. From 1640 to 1645 the 
settlements around New Amsterdam suffered from 
frequent attacks from the Indians. When, in 1647, 
Peter Stuyvesant was appointed governor, he at once 
made treaties of peace with the natives. Then too 
a boundary w^as agreed upon between the Dutch 
settlements and those in New Englaii-d, the line being 
the same as that which now divides New York and 
Connecticut. 

Early in 1664 the King of England, Charles II., 
gave to his brother, the Duke of York, all the coun- 
try between the Kennebec and St. Croix Rivers, and 
between the Connecticut and Delaware, without any 
thought of the rights of the people who had dis- 
covered and settled it. The Duke of York immedi- 
ately sent a fleet under the command of Colonel 



CHAP, v.] Maryland. 25 

Nichols, to take control of the country ; and after 
a brief resistance Stuyvesant was compelled to sub- 
mit, and New Amsterdam became an English pro- 
vince, under the name of New York. Thus the 
English ruled from Maine to Florida. 

New Jersey. — Up to 1664 several settlements 
had been made in New Jersey, but none remained 
for any length of time. When the Duke of York 
received his grant, he gave to Berkeley and Carteret 
this part of his province. Settlements were made 
in two or three places, and its name given to the 
country. In 1675 it was divided into East and 
West Jersey. East Jersey still belonged to Carteret, 
West Jersey, being given to William Penn for a 
Quaker settlement. 

Delaware. — In 1623 a large colony came from 
Flanders to New Netherlands, part of which entered 
the Bay of Delaware and built a fort, but before 
long went to New Amsterdam. In 1631 another 
colony settled at Lewistown, a few miles above 
Cape Henlopen. This was burned by the Indians 
in revenge for the death of one of their tribe. In 
1637 the Swedes sent a colony to the northern part 
of Delaware, and a large settlement was formed. A 
colony which settled near the mouth of the Schuyl- 
kill was captured a little later by Stuyvesant, and 
came under the control first of the Dutch, and after- 
ward of the Duke of York. When Pennsylvania 
was settled, Delaware was united with it under one 
government, and so remained until 1691, when it 
withdrew, and had its own separate government. 



CHAPTER N .—Continued. 

PART II. — Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Georgia, 
—1634-1733. 

Maryland. — In 1629 George Calvert, Lord 
Baltimore, went to Virginia with a colony, with the 



26 Georgia. [chap. v. 

purpose of settling ; but, being a Catholic, found that 
he could not take the oath that the government re- 
quired. He, therefore, obtained from the king a 
grant of land north of Virginia where he could found 
a Catholic colony. 

He died before his object was accomplished ; but 
his son, Leonard Calvert, sailed up the Chesapeake 
to the Potomac, and on the banks of that river made 
a settlement which he called Maryland. The Vir- 
ginians were much annoyed about the new settle- 
ment in what they called their province ; and Lord 
Baltimore's greatest trouble was caused by a Virgin- 
ian named Clayborne, who claimed as his own a part 
of the country, and who so worked upon the people 
that they rebelled against their governor. But Cal- 
vert soon regained his power over them, and firmly 
established a colony, which, although intended for 
Catholics, proved a safe home for men of any creed. 

Pennsylvania. — The Quakers were so success- 
ful in their colony in West Jersey, and after all their 
persecutions it seemed such a happy thing that they 
could at las^ live undisturbed, that in 1680 William 
Penn, a Quaker, asked for and obtained the grant of 
land which became the State of Pennsylvania. His 
object was to found a state where every one should 
have equal rights, and law and order be maintained 
without force. He made a treaty with the Indians 
which both parties kept unbroken, and in every way 
was a friend to the natives. In 1682 Philadelphia 
was founded, and the people began to choose their 
own governors and make their own laws. 

Georgia. — In 1732 George II. granted the 
charter for a colony between the Savannah and 
Altamaha Rivers. This was done in ans.wer to the 
appeal of James Oglethorpe for a colony which 
would be a home for the poor, who for various rea- 
sons had Uttle hope of improving their condition in 
their own country. The present site of Savannah 
was chosen for the colony, and thither flocked peo- 



CHAP. VI.] Pequot War. 2 J 

pie, for the most part laborers, from all parts of the 
world. Treaties were made with the Indians, and 
slavery was forbidden. 

As soon as England declared hostility against 
Spain in 1739, war broke out between the colonists 
and their Spanish neighbors in Florida. But the 
Spaniards were ultimately defeated, and the colony 
enjoyed peace. But before long discontent began 
to show itself. ' The people were poor, and thought 
it was because they were denied slaves. At first 
slaves were hired, but soon the same system of labor 
existed here as in the other Southern colonies. 



CHAPTER VI. 

INDIAN AND COLONIAL WARS. 

Pequot War. — 1636. — The first war with the 
Indians, called the Pequot War, was undertaken to 
avenge the death of two colonists who had been 
murdered by the Pequot Indians. Their village on 
Block Island was attacked and destroyed, and the 
natives killed or left to starve. This roused the 
Indians of the mainland, and several settlements on 
the banks of the Connecticut River were attacked 
by them. 

Meanwhile, the Pequots tried to persuade some of 
the other tribes to join them in an attempt to drive 
the English out of the country. Roger Williams, 
fearing the result, went himself to the chief of the 
Narragansetts, who had already promised to be 
friendly to the English, and persuaded him not to 
break his promise. The Mohegans gave their aid to 
the English, and a force was raised from the Con- 
necticut settlements, which, under Mason, attacked 
the Pequots in their fort near the Mystic River and 
destroyed them. Another attack was made shortly 
afterward at Fairfield upon what was left of the 



28 King William s War. [chap. vi. 

tribe, and one of the most powerful of the New 
England tribes was utteriy destroyed. 

King Philip's War.— 1675.— One of the first 
friends that the EngHsh at Plymouth made was 
Massasoit, the chief of tlie Wampanoags. When he 
died, and his son Philip became chief, the young 
men of the tribe began to show their jealousy of the 
English, who by degrees had bought up their land 
until all that they could call their own was part of 
what is now Rhode Island. And when two young 
men of the tribe were hung for the murder of an 
English settler, the Indians in revenge attacked one 
of the settlements and killed some of its people. 

The English immediately sent troops against 
them, who drove them from Mount Hope, the home 
of their chief. Then Philip went into Connecticut, 
where he was joined by some tribes. Many of the 
settlements were attacked and burned, and numbers 
of the people most cruelly killed. Next, Philip was 
joined by the Narragansetts, who at the beginning 
of the trouble had promised the English to have 
nothing to do with the war. Three thousand Indi- 
ans collected in a swamp in Rhode Island were 
attacked by the English and defeated. Philip 
escaped, but one thousand were killed, and several 
hundred taken prisoners ; and when, soon after, 
Philip was killed by a treacherous Indian, all idea 
of cittempting war again was given up. 

King William's Wan— 16S9-1697.— James 
II. of England made himself so hateful to his people 
by his acts that when, in 1689, WilHam of Orange 
came to claim the crown, many of the people took 
his part,' and James was forced to leave the country. 
France, however, insisted that he ought to be king, 
and war was declared between the two countries. 

Any trouble of this kind in the mother countries 
was certain to cause trouble between their colonies. 
Accordingly, the French in New France (Canada) 
and the English in New England took up the quarrel. 



CHAP. VI.] ^ii'g George s War. 29 

The war began in New Hampshire, and extended 
into New York, the Indians aiding the French. It 
lasted until 1697, and the colonists took Nova Scotia 
from the French. But, by the treaty of Ryswick 
between France and England, the war was ended, 
William was acknowledged king, and Nova Scotia 
restored to France. 

Queen Anne's War. — 1702. — On the death of 
William III. of England, France took the part of one 
of the sons of James II. in his claim upon the Eng- 
lish crown, and war was again declared between the 
two countries. The Indians needed little urging by 
the French to make attacks upon settlements in 
Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, and in 
1 701 a company of five hundred men was sent out 
to aid the distressed villages. 

Jealous of the increasing power of the French, the 
colonies determined at least to attempt to drive them 
out of Canada, and an unsuccessful expedition was 
sent in 1707 against Port Royal in Nova Scotia. In 
1 7 10 a large expedition carrying five regiments of 
troops attacked and took Port Royal. Two expedi- 
tions were then fitted out to go into Canada, and 
but for the delay of the commander would have 
been successful. But France had already asked for 
peace, and, by the treaty of Utrecht in 17 13, England 
gained possession of Labrador and Nova Scotia, 
which her colonies had already taken for her. 

King George's War. — 1744-1748. — This war 
arose because England and France took opposite 
sides in the contest as to the rightful claimant to the 
throne of Austria on the death of Charles VI., a con- 
test in which nearly all the countries of Europe 
were interested. The principal action in America 
was the siege of Louisburg in Cape Breton Island. 
This fortress guarded the entrance to the St. Law- 
rence River, and the governor of Massachusetts 
thought that its possession would make the conquest 
of Canada an easier matter. Nearly all the colonies 



30 TJie French and Indian War. [chap vii. 

sent him aid in fitting a force to go against it, and 
about four thousand men set out under Sir William 
Pepperell of Maine. To the utter surprise of the 
French, who thought their fort too strong to be taken, 
the siege was successful, and the English obtained 
not only Louisburg, but the whole island. 

When peace was made between the mother coun- 
tries. Cape Breton Island was given back to France, 
without any regard for the expense and trouble to 
which the colonists had been put in order to gain 
it, and not until the final contest between the colo- 
nies of the two countries was fought out was it 
restored to the English. ' 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. — 1754-1763. 

Causes. — By Cabot's discovery of the eastern 
coast of North America, England claimed the coun- 
try through from ocean to ocean. Their settle- 
ments stretched along the coast from Nova Scotia 
to Florida, but did not extend inland. On the 
other hand, the French, settling first in Nova Sco- 
tia, had entered the St. Lawrence, settled at and 
around Montreal, and then passed westward to the 
great lakes, and down the Mississippi, and some of 
the rivers that flow into it from the east. 

When the English began to see the need of 
settling the interior of the country if they would 
keep it, the French determined to prevent them, 
and accordingly a company was sent from Canada 
to settle the region about the Ohio River and to 
build forts. This company in 1753 attacked a 
party of English, and took some of the men to 
Canada as prisoners. This act aroused the anger 
of the English and also of the Indian tribes of that 
region, who resented the intrusion of the French, 



CHAP. VII.] The War.— iy$4. 31 

and immediately renewed their treaty with the Eng- 
lish. 

The governor of Virginia, Dinwiddie, before using 
force, determined to send a messenger to the French 
commander, asking him to withdraw from the 
Ohio. The person chosen for this task was a 
young surveyor named George Washington, des- 
tined to play an important part in the future of his 
country. In October, 1753, he set out from Wil- 
liamsburg on the York River, with a small party, 
traveled up the Potomac, then across the mountains 
to the present site of Pittsburgh, then north to 
Presque. Isle (Erie), to the French commander 
there. But he declared that the French had dis- 
covered the Ohio Valley and meant to keep it, and 
if necessary, would fight for it. It was quite evi- 
dent to Washington that the French were getting 
ready for war ; for they were strengthening their 
old forts, and building a new one at the point where 
the Alleghany and Monongahela Rivers joined, a 
point that he had himself selected as a gcod position 
for a British fort. He hastened back to Virginia 
as fast as he could, in the bitter winter weather, 
and learned that a party had been sent out which 
marched directly to the very spot that both he and 
the French had chosen. As they were not strong 
enough, however, to keep it, it was fortified by the 
French and called Fort Du Quesne. 

The War. — The English were now determined 
to drive the French from the territory, and the first 
expedition of the war was fitted out in May, 1754, 
under Washington, to capture Fort Du Quesne. 
On the 26th he reached Great Meadows, where he 
built a fort which he named Fort Necessity. Here 
he learned that the French were at hand, and were 
going to attack him, whereupon he advanced upon 
them and defeated them. He then returned to 
Fort Necessity to wait for more troops ; but, before 
these came, he was attacked by a large body of 



32 The War. — 1755. [chap. vii. 

French, and obliged to give up the fort and to with- 
draw his troops from the country. The French 
were left in possession of the Ohio Valley. 

Up to this time all action in the matter had been 
confined to Virginia ; but now all the colonies were 
aroused to their danger, and when orders came 
from England that they should unite to resist the 
intruders, they were ready to do so. In June, dele- 
gates from seven of the colonies met at Albany and 
made the necessary plans, and also made further 
treaties with the chief of the Six Nations, whose 
confidence in the English had been somewhat shaken 
by their late defeat. Meantime the French were 
busy fortifying Crown Point and Niagara. 

In September, 1754, the British Parliament saw 
that something must be done to help the colonies ; 
so they sent over some troops under General Brad- 
dock, with orders to take command of all the forces 
in North America. He was directed to send forces 
against Acadia, Crown Point, and Niagara, and to 
go himself against Fort Du Quesne. These points 
were chosen for attack, for the reason that each was 
situated in such a way as to command an important 
position. Acadia, or Nova Scotia, commanded the 
entrance to the St. Lawrence, and the river from 
the ocean to Quebec and Montreal ; Crown Point 
commanded the passage to the very heart of the 
colonies through Lake Champlain ; Niagara com.- 
manded the passage from the great lakes to the St. 
Lawrence ; and Fort Du Quesne commanded the 
Ohio Valley, and therefore the passage from Cana- 
da to the Gulf of Mexico. 

In April, 1755, Braddock left Virginia with two 
thousand men, most of them British regulars, that 
is, trained soldiers from England, the remainder 
provincials. Braddock was an able general, but not 
at all used to the Indian way of fighting. The 
Indians did not form themselves into regular bodies 
and fight openly, but hid themselves behind trees 



CHAP. VII.] The War.—iysS' 33 

and rocks, or crouched behind shrubs or in a thicket, 
and could shoot at the regularly formed troops with- 
out being much injured in return. 

On the yth of June, the forces assembled at 
Fort Cumberland on Will's Creek, and then trav- 
eled over the mountain to Great Meadows, where 
Washington persuaded Braddock to leave a part of 
the army, and push on with the rest to Fort Du 
Quesne. Following this advice, he approached the 
fort by a roundabout way ; but when near it, fell 
into an ambuscade of French and Indians, which 
the French commander had prepared as the only 
way of saving the fort, for the English force was 
much larger than his. Five hundred men were at- 
tacked in this way in a wood where the road was 
very narrow, and the troops fell in numbers. The 
provincials stood their ground bravely, and wanted 
to adopt the Indian method of fighting ; but Brad- 
dock thought it cowardly to "hide behind the trees, 
and unwisely forbade it. The regular troops became 
terrified, and Braddock, who was badly wounded, 
took Washington's advice and ordered a retreat. 
The troops that were left fled to' Fort Necessity, 
where Braddock died, and then they went back to 
Philadelphia. The loss was very great, and the 
whole country was in despair. 

General Braddock's plan had been to take Fort 
Du Quesne, and then march northvv'ard to join Gen- 
eral Shirley in the attack upon Niagara ; and, at the 
same time that Shirley left Albany for Niagara, Gen- 
eral Johnson was to leave for Crown Point. But as 
Shirley was about to start, news of Braddock's de- 
feat arrived ; and, as many of his men were dis- 
couraged and deserted, the idea of an attack was 
given up, the more readily that Shirley had heard 
that the French were going to attack Oswego. So 
he sent a force to strengthen Oswego, and returned 
to Albany. 

Meanwhile, the French had learned that an army 
3 



34 ^^^^ JVar. — 1756. [chap. vn. 

had set out for Crown Point, and the force that had 
been prepared for the attack on Oswego was sent to 
this place. The EngUsh had encamped at the south- 
ern end of the lake, which the French called St. 
Sacrament, but which they called George, after their 
king, and had built a fort near by, meaning to pro- 
ceed up to Ticonderoga, at the southern end, on Lake 
Champlain, as soon as they were joined by more 
troops. But the French commander, Dieskau, left 
Crown Point well defended, and marched the rest 
of his army to within a few miles of the English. 
On hearing this the English at once started for the 
fort, but the advance fell into an ambuscade. The 
English leaders were killed almost immediately ; but 
the troops retreated in a very orderly manner to the 
main force, and, protected by their camp defenses, 
opened such a steady fire on the French that they 
were obliged to retreat with great loss. After this 
victory the English strengthened the fort at the head 
of the lake, naming it Fort William Henry, and 
placed a garrison there and at Fort Edward. 

Although Acadia had been given to England by 
the treaty of 17 13, it was peopled almost entirely by 
French. Fearing a rebellion among them, a new 
oath of allegiance was demanded from them, which 
as Catholics they could not take. A force w^as sent 
against them in 1756, and all who would not take 
the oath were banished from the country. 

In the beginning of the summer of 1756 reinforce- 
ments arrived from France, under the comm.and of 
the Marquis of Montcalm. This able general imme- 
diately set about fortifying Niagara, and after several 
attacks upon small places in the neighborhood, at- 
tacked Oswego and destroyed the forts. He then 
withdrew to Montreal. The next summer Mont- 
calm set out for Fort William Henry. The com- 
mander there, Colonel Monro, had two or three 
thousand regulars, and there were about four thou- 
sand more at Fort Edward under General Webb. 



CHAP. VH.] The War. — 1757-8. 35 

The French called upon Monro to surrender, which 
he refused to do, trusting to Webb for aid. This 
Webb refused to give, and advised Monro to yield. 
After a week's siege Monro surrendered, and the 
garrison was massacred by the Indians. The fort 
was burned, and Montcalm returned to Canada. 

At the end of this year, 1757, so great had been 
the success of the French, that both the colonies 
and England were very much discouraged. The 
English troops had far outnumbered the French ; 
but, through want of knowledge in some cases, and 
through the inactivity of the commanders in others, 
their strength had been wasted and nothing gained. 

But a change in the ministry in England caused a 
change in the war. A new energy was given to the 
Americans by the willingness with which the prime 
minister, Pitt, promised to aid them with arms and 
other necessaries, on condition that the colonies 
should furnish and pay the men. To this they 
agreed at once. New commanders were appointed 
in place of those of the previous year. General 
Abercrombie was appointed commander-in-chief. 
The first action of 1758 was an attack upon Louis- 
burg under General Amherst, which resulted in its 
capture. While Amherst was at this place General 
Abercrombie attacked Ticonderoga. Montcalm 
awaited the attack behind his intrenchments, which 
he strengthened by placing felled trees in front. 
Abercrombie urged on his men, only to see them 
fall in numbers. At last they were obliged to re- 
treat, with a loss of nearly two thousand men and 
one of their best leaders, Lord Howe. Abercrom- 
bie withdrew to Fort George, and sent an expedi- 
tion against Fort Frontenac, at the outlet of Lake 
Ontario, which was more successful, and the fort 
was destroyed. 

The third expedition planned for this year, which 
left Philadelphia under command of General Forbes 
for Fort Du Quesne, was also successful ; for the 



36 The War. — 1759. [chap. vn. 

French set fire to the fort and deserted it on their 
approach. The English flag was raised over the 
ruins, and the place named Pittsburgh. 

Three expeditions were planned for 1759, against 
Niagara, Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and Quebec, 
the object being a final attempt to conquer Canada. 
Niagara surrendered on the second day of the siege. 
Amherst advanced against Ticonderoga, and the 
French retreated to Crown Point. The English fol- 
lowed, and the French again retreated. Thus Lake 
Champlain fell into the hands of the English. 

The command of the expedition against Quebec 
was given to General Wolfe, who had distinguished 
himself by his bravery at Louisburg. With eight 
thousand men and a fleet of about fifty vessels un- 
der Admiral Saunders, he sailed up the St. Law- 
rence River in June, and encamped his troops, some 
just below Quebec, and others on a point opposite 
the city. Montcalm, expecting an attack, had sent 
for aid from Montreal, and thought the city was 
safely guarded, for it was naturally well situated, a 
part being on the shore of the river, the other on a 
promontory above, and on this promontory was the 
fortress. The English threw shells into the city, 
and did much damage to the upper and lower towns, 
but could not harm the fortress. Wolfe, therefore, 
determined on another mode of attack. The French 
defenses stretched for five miles below the city. He 
would attack these and weaken the force. An at- 
tack Avas planned by which two bodies of troops, 
one from each camp, should fall at the same time 
upon the French at the Montmorenci. But the di- 
vision from Point Levi ran aground, and the other 
was badly defeated. 

At the back of the upper city was a large plain, 
and it was quite clear to Wolfe that an attack from 
that point could not fail. The difficulty lay in get- 
ting up to it, as the steep and dangerous paths were 
well guarded. He called his generals together and 



Quebec, 




RUSSELL i. STHUTMErtSjENG'S,! 



CHAP. VIII.] TJie Revolutionary War. 37 

told them the plan. They thought it could be done, 
and on the night of the twelfth of July his men took 
to the boats, and floated up the river with the tide. 
Landing at a point a little above the city, they disem- 
barked, climbed the steep paths, and in the morn- 
ing, to the amazement of Montcalm, who thought 
them still on the Montmorenci, they were on the 
Plains of Abraham, marching straight for the city. 
Montcalm summoned all his troops, and sending to 
Montreal for more, ordered an attack. The English 
marched on without returning the fire, until they 
were near the intrenchments. Then they opened 
such a deadly fire that the French fled. Both par- 
ties lost their brave leaders in the contest. 

The next year the French tried to regain Quebec, 
but failed. Montreal soon surrendered, and the 
English were masters of Canada. In 1763, when 
peace was formally settled between France and 
England, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, and Canada 
were ceded to England. 

But, in the interval between the fall of Canada and 
the treaty, the Indians, who had been the firm allies 
of the French, gave the English constant trouble ; 
and at last a conspiracy was discovered, by which 
the Indians intended to unite all the tribes and de- 
stroy the Enghsh. But the Indians found the Eng- 
lish ready to meet their attacks, and when news of 
the peace came they were ready to submit. 

By the same treaty, Spain, with whom England 
had also been at war, gave up Florida, and France 
ceded Louisiana to Spain, so that the King of France 
had not a possession left in the country. 



CHAPTER VIIL 

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 

Causes. — At the close of the French and Indian 
War, the colonies had a population of over one and 



38 Causes. [chap. vm. 

a half million of people. Schools had been founded, 
several newspapers established in Boston and Phila- 
delphia, and a large trade was carried on with England. 
The colonies had grown and prospered in spite of 
many difficulties ; but a new trouble now arose more 
serious than any that they had hitherto encountered. 
^ The French and Indian War had been a great 
expense to England, and the English Parliament 
thought the colonies ought to help pay it. This they 
were quite willing to do, but wanted to do it in their 
own way. Hence, when the English Government 
declared that they should pay it by means of taxes 
upon some of the articles they were obliged to use, 
the colonists, through their agents in London, asked 
that they should not be required to do so unless they 
were represented in Parliament. But William Pitt 
was not now prime minister, and those in power were 
not as friendly to America as he had been; and 
besides, the king, George III., was very stubborn, 
and cared not nearly as much for the good of the 
colonies as for his own selfish plans. So it is not sur- 
prising that, in spite of the friends of the colonies, 
the Stamp Ac f was passed in 1765. This act required 
that ail paper used in transacting business should 
bear a stamp. To this the people were very much 
opposed. The assembly in Virginia declared that 
English subjects in America had the same rights as 
English subjects in England ; that the colonists 
would not submit to being taxed except by their own 
representatives. Declarations like these were made 
in the assemblies in New York and Massachusetts, 
and in the latter, James Otis proposed that a con- 
gress of the colonies should be held. The colonies 
agreed, and the first Colonial Congress met at New 
York the 7th of October, 1765. A Declaration of 
Rights was formed, which was in effect the same as 
that already passed by Virginia. The stamped paper 
was destroyed, and the people prepared to resist all 
efforts at taxation. 



I 



CHAR VIII.] The IVa?'. — 1775. 39 

When the EngHsh Parliament saw how strongly 
the people in both countries felt about the Stamp 
Act, it was repealed. But the joy which this caused 
did not last long, for the government insisted on the 
right to tax the colonies, and when the people re- 
fused to pay, the government said that they were 
rebels, and sent troops to see that they obeyed, and 
to keep them in order. These troops were quar- 
tered in the houses of the citizens, which was ex- 
tremely annoying ; and when, one day, a quarrel 
arose between some soldiers and citizens, the peo- 
ple demanded that the governor should remove 
them. 

In 1773 all the taxes were withdrawn except that 
on tea, and that was reduced to a small sum, the 
ministers thinking that the people would be content. 
This, however, was a great mistake. When vessels 
containing tea arrived in the harbors of New York, 
Philadelphia, and other cities, they were not allowed 
to land their cargoes. In Boston the vessel was 
boarded by a party of men disguised as Indians, and 
the tea thrown into the water. This so angered the 
English Government that in 1774 a bill passed Par- 
liament which forbade any vessels to enter Boston 
Harbor for the purpose of trading. This last act 
aroused all the colonies, for if the English Govern- 
ment could take away the trade from Boston, it 
could take it away from all other ports, and thus 
ruin the colonies. A second Colonial Congress was 
held in Philadelphia, in September, 17 74, and the 
colonies decided to aid Massachusetts in her resist- 
ance. When this news reached England, ten thou- 
sand soldiers were sent out to General Gage, with 
directions to put down the rebellion by force, and 
the assembly in that colony was ordered to cease all 
action. Instead of obeying, they voted to raise 
twelve thousand men for their own defense. 

The War. — 1775. — General Gage's first move- 
ment was to seize the arms and ammunition in. Bos- 



40 The War. — 1775. [chap. vm. 

ton, but the citizens quietly removed them to Con- 
cord. To capture or destroy these Major Pitcairn 
was sent on the night of the i8th of April, 1775. But 
the patriots were aroused by Paul Revere and William 
Dawes, who rode from Boston through the country a 
little in advance of the British, and when Pitcairn 
reached Lexington, he found a few^ men ready to 
meet him. He commanded them to disperse, and 
when they refused, fired upon them, wounding sev- 
eral. He then marched toward Concord. Here the 
provincials were collecting so rapidly that the British, 
after a slight contest, retreated toward Boston, while 
all along the road a steady fire was kept up by the 
patriots from behind fences, houses, and barns, in- 
flicting such loss upon the retreating troops that if 
aid had not reached them from Boston, they would 
have been utterly destroyed. The news of the battle 
of Lexington sped through the country with such 
rapidity and effect that in a few days there was an 
army of twenty thousand men around Boston. 

On the 9th of May Ethan Allen of Vermont led 
an attack against Fort Ticonderoga for the purpose 
of getting possession of its large quantity of military 
stores, and so forcible was the attack that the com- 
mander surrendered immediately. Two days later a 
successful attack was made upon Crown Point. 

On the 25th of May Generals Howe, Clinton, and 
Burgoyne reached Boston, bringing with them more 
English troops. The Americans immediately seized 
and fortified Bunker Hill, on the peninsula of Char- 
lestown, opposite Boston. On the night of the i6th 
of June one thousand provincials under Col. Pres- 
cott quietly fortified Breed's Hill, a little nearer the 
city. When, on the morning of the 17th, the 
British found them in possession, they began a fierce 
cannonade, and about noon landed three thousand 
men to attack the American works. Twice the 
British ascended the hill, and twice the Americans 
drove them back. But now their ammunition gave 



CHAP. VIII.] '^71^' 41 

out, and therefore at the third attack the Americans 
were obHged to retreat. The British loss was over a 
thousand ; the American, one hundred and fifteen 
and over three hundred wounded. Among the 
killed was General Warren. 

In the meantime the Congress at Philadelphia had 
been led to see the need of raising an army and of 
appointing a commander-in-chief. For this office 
George Washington of Virginia was selected. We 
have already seen the part that Washington had 
taken in the French and Indian War. When that 
war closed, he was a member of the Virginia Assem- 
bly, and afterward a member of the Colonial Con- 
gress. He was now chosen to lead the country 
through its greatest struggle. All the colonies had 
not yet decided to break off all allegiance to Eng- 
land ; but only wanted to compel the king to give 
them just treatment, and they had lately sent a last 
appeal asking this. Congress voted that twenty 
thousand men should be raised, and Washington 
went to work to organize an army. An expedition 
was sent against Canada, which resulted in the cap- 
ture of St. Johns and Montreal. Richard Mont- 
gomery and Benedict Arnold made an attack on 
Quebec ; but found the city so well defended that 
the Americans were badly defeated, and v\^ere 
obliged to withdraw step by step from Canada. 
The greatest loss of the expedition was the death of 
Montgomery, who was killed as his troops were re- 
treating. 

1776. — All winter the British held possession of 
Boston, and Washington kept his army just outside 
the city, waiting till he should think his force strong 
enough to expel the enemy. Early in the spring of 
1776 he ordered General Thomas to fortify Dor- 
chester Heights, on the south side of Boston — a site 
that overlooked the city. Lord Howe ordered Percy 
to attack the Heights from the harbor side ; but a 
storm prevented this, and Howe, without making 



42 ^71^' [chap. VIII. 

any further attempt, withdrew, and left Massachu- 
setts in the hands of the Americans. 

Washington suspected that Howe would sail for 
New York, and sent General Sullivan to reinforce 
Lee, already there, promising to join them himself as 
soon as possible. Fortifications were built on the 
heights on the Brooklyn side of the river, and on 
New York opposite, and recruits were summoned 
from all directions. 

Meanwhile the attention of the British was turned 
to another quarter. The governor of Carolina 
thought that that colony might easily be reduced, 
and a force was sent from England for that purpose. 
Clinton met this force at Wilmington, and took com- 
mand. But active preparations had been made to 
oppose them. Charleston was fortified against the 
land forces, and a fort was erected on Sullivan's 
Island in the harbor, by which Colonel Moultrie, 
the commander, hoped to keep out the fleet. The 
British appeared on the 31st of May, but did not 
make an attack until the 28th of June. Then 
the land and naval forces acted together. Such 
a fire opened upon Clinton's land forces that they 
were compelled to withdraw, and all the afternoon 
a fierce fire was kept up between Fort Sullivan and 
the two hundred guns of the fleet. The British 
guns did little harm, for the shot fell into the soft 
palmetto wood of which the fort was built, and most 
of the shells fell into the marsh and sand of the in- 
terior. Once the flag was shot down. Instantly 
Sergeant Jasper sprang over the wall and set it up 
again. In the evening the enem.y, giving up all 
hope of taking South Carolina, withdrev/ and sailed 
for New York. The fort on Sullivan's Island was re- 
named Fort Moultrie, after its brave defender. 

While these events were taking place, George the 
Third had sent his reply to the appeal of the colonies ; 
had declared that he would listen to nothing until 
they should submit to his authority, and announced 



CHAP. VIII.] ^71^' 43 

his intention of reducing them by arms. He was, 
moreover, raising troops by hiring the subjects of 
some of the smaller German states. His refusal to 
listen to their appeal put an end to all indecision, 
and by the end of June the colonies were ready to 
sever all connection with the mother country. The 
Continental Congress was in session at Philadelphia, 
and there, on the 7th of June, Richard Henry Lee, 
of Virginia, declared that the colonies ought to be 
absolved from all allegiance to the British crown. 
Active discussion followed this, and on the nth of 
the month, five members — Thomas Jefferson, John 
Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and 
Robert R. Livingston — were appointed to prepare a 
formal Declaration of Independence. This was 
done, and the resolutions were adopted by Congress 
on the Fourth of July. Copies of the Declaration 
were sent throughout the country, and read to the 
army. From all quarters came expressions of the 
joy to which it gave rise. 

Preparations were still going on to receive an 
attack upon New York. At the end of June Howe 
arrived from Halifax — whither he had gone upon 
leaving Boston — and landed his troops upon Staten 
Island. Here he was joined by Admiral Howe, and 
later by the Hessian allies. The British force con- 
sisted of at least thirty thousand men, well armed, 
many of whom had seen service, and under the 
command of experienced officers. The American 
force under Washington was smaller, with scanty 
supply of arms and ammunition, and few of its num- 
ber had had any experience in war. 

After trying to bring the Americans to terms 
without fighting, the British crossed the bay to 
Gravesend on Long Island, on the 2 2d of August. 
From this point the British marched in three 
divisions on the 27th. Their first encounter was 
with Stirling, and was without decided result. But, 
through the neglect of General Putnam, certain 



44 ^Tl^' [chap. VIII. 

points had been left unguarded, and the main army 
under SulHvan was suddenly attacked front and 
rear. After a desperate fight some few escaped, 
but numbers were taken prisoners. The division 
under CornwalHs now pressed after Stirling, and cap- 
tured the general himself and a number of his men. 
The rest succeeded in reaching the American lines. 
Washington crossed from New York during the 
battle, but could give no aid. All that he could do 
was to try to save what was left of the army. He 
supposed that the British would follow up the de- 
feated troops. But instead they remained inactive 
the day after the battle, and during the fog which 
succeeded on the 29th Washington silently with- 
drew his shattered forces across the river to New 
York, and afterward went further up the island to 
Harlem Heights. 

On the 15 th of September the British landed 
a little above New York, and routed a party of 
Americans in a skirmish. After several skirmishes 
of little importance a battle was fought at White 
Plains on the 28th. The Americans were driven 
from one position to another, and night came on 
before any decisive result. Howe returned to New 
York and Washington withdrew to North Castle. 
Both armies were much weakened by this action. 

Howe now turned toward the Hudson, and Wash- 
ington, fearing that he meant to enter New Jersey ;ind 
proceed to Philadelphia, left a force under Lee at 
North Castle and another at Fort Washington, on the 
east side of the Hudson, and crossed over to Fort Lee 
on the west side. Howe followed. Fort Washington 
was taken, and the enemy crossed the river. Wash- 
ington abandoned Fort Lee, and retreated through 
New Jersey, his army growing smaller as he went, 
closely pursued by the British. On the 8th of 
December Washington reached Trenton and crossed 
the Delaware. The British encamped at Trenton, to 
wait for the river to freeze over before attempting to 



CHAP. VIII.] ^777' 45 

cross ; for Washington had taken care that no boats 
should be at hand for the use of the enemy. The Brit- 
ish, feehng confident in their strength, and assured 
that their defeated foes could not prevent their march 
into the capital, divided their forces so that Corn- 
wallis occupied Princeton, and two thousand Hes- 
sians under Rahl lay at Trenton, which was but 
poorly defended. Washington saw in this the oppor- 
tunity for an attack. His force had been strength- 
ened by recruits, and the troops which he had left 
under Lee in New York. Several times he had or- 
dered Lee to join him, but his orders had been so 
slowly obeyed that Lee himself fell into the hands 
of the British. Sullivan, who had been exchanged, 
then took command and eagerly hastened to Wash- 
ington. The night of the 25th of December was 
chosen for the attack upon Trenton. The Dela- 
ware was so blocked with floating ice that the pass- 
age was delayed several hours. When it had been 
effected, the Americans in two divisions fell upon 
the city from different directions, and so surprised 
the Hessians that they were compelled to surrender. 
That evening Washington took across the Delaware 
with him more than nine hundred prisoners. This 
victory filled the nation with joy. 

1777. — On the 13th of December Washington 
took up a position at Trenton, and on the 2d of 
January, 1777, Cornwallis arrived from Princeton. 
Washington, fearing defeat, and aware that a hasty 
retreat under fire of the enemy would destroy his 
army, determined to escape in another way. There 
were two roads from Trenton to Princeton, one 
direct, which the British held, and one circuitous. 
.This latter the American army took, leaving their 
camp-fires burning to deceive Cornwallis, and en- 
tered Princeton just as three regiments were leaving 
to join the main army at Trenton. A severe con- 
test took place, in which the Americans succeeded 
in repulsing the British. CornwalHs, angry at the 



46 Burgoynes Campaign. [chap, viii, 

escape of the enemy, hastened back to Princeton, 
and found that the Americans had gone to Morris- 
town, where they remained for the rest of the winter. 

The opening of the year 1777 brought encourage- 
ment from abroad. Through the exertions of 
FrankHn and others, who had been sent to Europe, 
money and arms were raised in France. Among 
the private men who thus aided the Americans was 
the Marquis of Lafayette, who fitted out an expedi- 
tion and reached America in April. He offered to 
serve as a volunteer, and Congress gave him the 
rank of major-general. 

On the 25 th of April, Try on, formerly governor 
of New York, proceeded against Danbury, Connec- 
ticut, and destroyed some stores ; but he was at- 
tacked by Wooster and Arnold on his retreat, and 
badly defeated. An attack made upon the British 
stores at Sag Harbor was more successful. In July 
Colonel Barton made a raid upon the house in New- 
port where the British General Prescott lodged, and 
took him prisoner. 

In May Washington left Morristown, and took up 
his position within ten miles of the enemy at New 
Brunswick. Howe brought reinforcements to Corn- 
waUis, and an attack was made on the 25th of June. 
Washington was obliged to withdraw, but did so 
without loss. The British crossed over to Staten 
Island, so that New Jersey was left in the hands 
of the patriots. 

Burgoyne's Campaign. — The most important 
action of this year was the campaign in the north. 
General Burgoyne led an expedition from Canada 
for the purpose of getting control of the Hudson, 
and so cutting off communication between New 
England and the Middle States. The first event of 
the campaign was the seizure of Fort Ticonderoga. 
This fort was commanded by General St. Clair, with 
three thousand men. But, as the British took pos- 
session of a hill overlooking the fort, the garrison 



CHAP. VIII. J Burgoynes Campaig7i. 47 

abandoned it and withdrew into Vermont. The 
British pursued and overtook them at Hubbardton ; 
but they met such a fire as compelled them to give 
up the pursuit. The Americans then fell back to 
Fort Edward, where General Schuyler took com- 
mand, and led them to the mouth of the Mohawk 
River. While on his way southward in pursuit, 
Burgoyne sent Colonel Baum with a few hundred men 
into Vermont to capture the stores at Bennington. 
The militia under Colonel Stark completely routed 
them, with a loss of one hundred and forty killed 
and wounded, and seven hundred prisoners. 

When Burgoyne started on his expedition, he sent 
a force of Canadians and Indians to capture Fort 
Schuyler. When the news of their coming spread 
abroad, the militia of the neighborhood under Gen- 
eral Herkimer prepared to assist the small garrison at 
the fort. This force of militia fell into an ambush, 
and would have been destroyed if the garrison had 
not rushed out to their assistance. The sudden 
force of this attack completely routed the enemy. 

The news of this repulse reached Burgoyne just 
after the battle of Bennington, and made him unde- 
cided as to the best thing to do. The American 
troops were gathering from all quarters, cheered by 
late successes, and General Gates was at the head 
of about nine thousand men at Stillwater. On the 
14th of September Burgoyne took position at Sara- 
toga, and four days later encamped within two 
miles of Gates. On the 19th a battle took place, 
which had reached no decided result when night 
fell, and both armies retired to their camps. More 
than two weeks passed before any further action 
took place. 

Meantime, Burgoyne was falling short of provis- 
ions, and his Indian and Canadian allies were de- 
serting. On the other hand, Gates's forces were 
increasing. At last, assured that some of the Amer- 
ican troops would be called off to protect the Hud- 



48 Washingtofi s Campaign, [chap. vm. 

son from an anticipated attack by Clinton, Burgoyne 
began a second battle at Stillwater, on the 7th 
of October. He was badly defeated, and driven 
from his position. In this battle General Fraser 
was killed, and many others of Burgoyne's bravest 
officers and men. On the American side Arnold 
distinguished himself by his reckless daring. The 
Americans pursued the defeated enemy as far as 
Saratoga, and then Burgoyne, finding himself 
hemmed in, surrendered. On the 1 7th of October, his 
army, numbering about five thousand eight hundred 
men, became prisoners of war, and a large quantity 
of arms and other valuable stores passed into the 
hands of the Americans. The success of the army 
in the north was the more grateful to the colonists, 
because the army under Washington was suffering 
reverses. 

Washington's Campaign. — In the latter part 
of July, Washington saw Howe move his fleet and 
troops from Staten Island. Suspecting that he was 
on his way to Philadelphia Washington marched 
rapidly thiiher. When Howe found that the Amer- 
icans had control of Delaware Bay, he sailed south 
to the Chesapeake, and on the 25th of August 
landed his troops, and marched toward Phila- 
delphia. Washington's forces were stationed on the 
Brandywine, where he hoped so to defeat the en- 
emy as to prevent their reaching the capital. But 
General Sullivan, who was in command of one di- 
vision, mistook the movements of the enemy, and 
Washington was misled by contradictory reports ; 
so that an attack on the nth of September re- 
sulted in the defeat of the Americans. Fully a 
thousand men were killed, wounded, and missing. 
Next day Washington led the troops back toward 
Philadelphia, and took position at Germantown. 
On the 15th he marched toward the British camp, 
but a storm prevented a battle. Howe, after a 
series of maneuvers intended to mislead Washing- 



CHAP. VIII.] Washington s Campaign. 49 

ton, entered Philadelphia on the 26th of September. 
Upon this, Congress removed first to Lancaster, 
and then to York, where it continued to meet until 
the capital was abandoned by the British the next 
summer. 

One of Howe's first movements was to send a 
large division of his arm)^ against Forts Mifilin and 
Mercer on the Delaware. Washington, thinking that 
this would be an excellent time to attack the re- 
maining forces, which were stationed at German- 
town, moved his army in three divisions and fdl upon 
the British. At first the attack seemed successful ; 
but a party of British got possession of a stone 
house, and kept up such a steady fire from it that 
the Americans were forced to retreat with great loss. 

On the 2 2d of October, Fort Mifflin was attacked 
by the British fleet. The garrison held out as long 
as possible, and then fled to Fort Mercer, which 
had already been unsuccessfully attacked by the 
Hessians under Donop. Cornwallis was sent to 
make a second attack ; and although General Greene 
took reinforcements to the garrison, the British force 
was so much larger than the American, that in No- 
vember the fort was abandoned, and the British left 
in control of the Delaware. 

Howe failed to draw the Americans into another 
engagement, and went into winter-quarters at Phila- 
delphia. Washington retired to Valley Forge, where 
the soldiers suffered most severely all winter for the 
want of food, clothes, and every other necessary. 
Many deserted, and those who remained needed all 
their patriotism and all the power of their comman- 
der to make their condition bearable. Some of 
Washington's enemies blamed him for the reverses 
his army had sustained, and strove to have him re- 
moved, and Lee or Gates put in his place ; but the 
army and the greater part of the people remained 
true to him. 

During this winter the. Americans received further 
4 



50 177S. [chap. IX. 

encouragement from Europe. Baron von Steuben, 
a Prussian who had fought under Frederick the 
Great, arrived, and proved of great ' assistance in 
teaching and driUing the army. The French gov- 
ernment, too, yielding to the urgent requests of 
Frankhn and the other agents, made a treaty with 
the United States. In consequence, England tried 
to appease the colonies by repealing all the offen- 
sive laws. But she would not recognize the inde- 
pendence of the colonies ; and nothing else would 
now satisfy them. 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR CONTINUED. 

1773' — N'o important action took place until 
the summer of this year. Then the British, fearing 
the occupation of the Delaware by a French fleet, 
left Philadelphia for New York. On the i8th of 
June the army of fourteen thousand men, under 
Sir Henry Clinton, began its march through New 
Jersey. As soon as Washington learned this, he 
marched in pursuit ; and on the 27th came to with- 
in five miles of the enemy near Monmouth. Gen- 
eral Lee was ordered on the 28th to attack the 
enemy, which he did ; but a part of his detachment, 
mistaking one of his movements, began a retreat 
pursued by the British. Washington came up in 
time to rally the troops, and, rebuking Lee for his 
bad generalship, ordered him to the rear, and him- 
self took the command. The contest continued until 
night, and the advantage was with the Americans ; 
but before morning Clinton, evidently fearing de- 
feat, removed his forces, and continued his march. 
Washington followed, and took position at White 
Plains. 

In July a French fleet under D'Estaing arrived at 



CHAP. IX.] 1779- 51 

Newport Harbor. General Pigot, with six thousand 
British and Hessians, held the town ; and Sullivan, 
in command of ten thousand Americans, was await- 
ing a favorable opportunity to attack him. The two 
armies, French and American, arranged to make a 
united attack on the loth of August. On the 9th 
Howe's fleet appeared, and D'Estaing went out to 
meet it. A storm separated the fleets, and D'Es- 
taing was obliged to put into Boston for repairs. In 
November he sailed for the West Indies without 
having been of any assistance to the Atnericans. 
Sulhvan, however, determined to make the proposed 
attack, and besieged Newport. But he was obHged 
to retreat. The British pursued him to the northern 
part of the island, where they were repulsed with 
great loss. Then Sullivan, learning that Clinton 
was on his way with reinforcements, retreated to the 
mainland. 

In July, Major Butler, a Tory, led a company of 
British and Indians into Wyoming Valley, Pennsyl- 
vania, attacked the fort, and obliged the garrison to 
surrender. They then fell upon the helpless people, 
and robbed and massacred all on whom they could 
lay their hands. A similar massacre took place in 
Cherry Valley, New York, during w^hich most of the 
houses were burned, and many people killed or 
driven from their homes. In revenge for these 
cruelties an expedition went from Virginia against 
the Indians on the western frontier, which resulted 
in the capture of several important posts. 

In December, Clinton sent two thousand men 
under Colonel Campbell to get possession of Geor- 
gia. The Americans, under General Robert Howe, 
were surprised at Savannah, and obliged to retreat, 
losing thereby a great part of their force. The re- 
mainder crossed into South Carolina, took posses- 
sion of Charleston, and left Georgia in the hands of 
the British. 

1779- — Another expedition was led by Tryon into 



52 1779- [chap. IX. 

Connecticut, in the early spring of this year, to de- 
stroy some works. After doing this, he burned the 
village of West Greenwich, and then went back to 
New York. In July he sailed for New Haven with 
about twenty-five hundred men, and captured the 
town. Then he plundered and burned the towns of 
Fairfield, East Haven, and Norwalk. 

In May, Clinton had approached Stony Point on 
the Hudson where the Americans were building a 
fort, and had driven them from the place. Wash- 
ington determined not to lose so important a post, 
and chose General Wayne to retake it. On the 
T5th of July Wayne led his troops up the side of the 
steep hill, and so silently was the approach made 
that the sentinel at the sumimit had only just given 
the alarm when the patriots scaled the walls and 
summoned the garrison to surrender. Over five 
hundred prisoners and valuable stores passed into 
the hands of Wayne. These he secured, and then 
destroyed the fort. Three days afterward the Brit- 
ish garrison at Paulus Hook was surprised and taken 
by Lee. 

In August, a fleet which had been fitted out by 
Massachusetts, was captured by the British while 
besieging a post on the Penobscot. 

Meanwhile, the war in the South went on. While 
Colonel Boyd, with a party of Tories, was on his 
way to Augusta to join Colonel Campbell, he was 
attacked and defeated by some militia under Colonel 
Pickens. In March, General Lincoln, now in com- 
mand in the South, ordered Colonel Ashe to proceed 
against the British on their way from Augusta to 
Savannah. He was surprised at Brier Creek by 
General Prevost, and his small army scattered ; a 
few only reached the main army. General Lin- 
coln rallied his forces, and in May was on his way 
to Savannah by way of Augusta. On the 12th, 
General Prevost appeared before Charleston, and 
ordered its surrender. This General Moultrie re- 



II 



CHAP. IX.] 1779' 53 

fused ; and Prevost, learning that Lincoln was com- 
ing to the relief of the city, retreated, and, after for- 
tifying Beaufort, returned to Savannah. 

In the early part of September, D'Estaing came 
from the West Indies with six thousand men, to aid 
Lincoln in an attack upon Savaniiah. When, after 
considerable delay, Lincoln arrived, the siege was 
begun but without success. On the 8th of Octo- 
ber they determined to make an assault upon the 
city as their last hope of gaining it. After an hour's 
most severe fighting, the assailants were driven back 
with fearful loss. D'Estaing embarked immediately 
for France, and Lincoln retired to Charleston. 

While the patriots were thus being defeated on 
land, a more encouraging event was taking place at 
sea. In September Paul Jones, with a few French 
and American vessels, fell in with some British mer- 
chant ships and two men-of-war, off the coast of 
England. For more than an hour the Bon Hoinine 
Richard and the Serapis were engaged in the most 
desperate battle. When both vessels were shattered 
by shot they were lashed together, and the mariners 
fought hand to hand until the Serapis struck her 
colors. Then Jones removed what was left of his 
men to the captured vessel, and the Bon Homme 
Richaj'd was left to sink. The other man-of-war 
was captured. But his victory cost Jones most of 
his men ; for only seventy-five were left out of three 
hundred and seventy-five. 

Thus closed the fifth year of the war, and inde- 
pendence seemed as far off as ever. The treasury 
was bankrupt, and Congress had no power to raise 
money by taxes. The soldiers were ill-fed and 
worse paid. The French, from whom so much had 
been expected, had so far rendered little effective 
assistance. And England showed her determination 
to carry on the struggle by raising over a hundred 
thousand more troops, and twenty million pounds 
for expenses. 



54 1780. [chap. IX. 

1780. — The most active operations of this year 
were carried on in the South. In the North, the 
British, under Knyphausen, made two unsuccessful 
marches from New York into New Jersey. The 
patriots were greatly encouraged by the arrival of 
six thousand troo'ps under Count Rochambeau, and 
a squadron under Admiral de Ternay. But Wash- 
ington's army was unable to unite with these for 
any immediate action, although plans were laid for 
the future. 

In February, a British squadron appeared before 
Charleston under Admiral Arbuthnot, bringing from 
New York Sir Henry Clinton, and five thousand 
men to force the South into submission. Clinton 
landed below the harbor, and led his forces north 
of the city. A few days later, the fleet passed Fort 
Moultrie in safety, and anchored in the harbor. 
Lincoln, who had received reinforcements from Vir- 
ginia, refused to surrender, and the British began 
the siege. In order to keep a way open for re- 
treat, Lincoln sent out General Huger with three 
hundred men to raise recruits from the miHtia. 
Scarcely had they left Charleston when Tarleton fell 
upon them, completely routing the whole force. 
The city was now surrounded, and Lincoln was 
forced to surrender. The British took possession 
on the T2th of May. Expeditions were now sent 
out to disperse the militia and to take possession of 
important posts. Everywhere the successes of the 
British were marked by the cruel treatment of the 
people ; so that, although the most important parts 
of the State came under their control, the greater 
portion of the people were only waiting for the time 
to come when they could throw off their authority. 
Some of the more daring spirits fled into North Caro- 
rolina, and formed themselves into bands, which an- 
noyed the British by their petty attacks. Of these, 
two bands under Sumter and Marion, were the most 
famous. These parties would fall upon detached 



CHAP. IX.] Arnold's Treason. 55 

bodies of British at the most unexpected times and 
places, and often inflict considerable loss. During 
the whole campaign of 1780, the British never felt 
quite secure from them. 

Congress appointed General Gates to succeed 
Lincoln in the South ; and, with a strong force of 
regular troops and such militia as would join him 
on his way, he crossed into North CaroHna. Hear- 
ing this, Lord Rawdon took up his position at Cam- 
den, in the northern part of South Carolina, and 
Cornwallis hastened from Charleston. The Amer- 
icans advanced into South Carolina until they were 
within fourteen miles of Camden. Each leader, in- 
tending to surprise the other, ordered his army for- 
ward, and at dawn, on the i6th of August, the two 
armies met. The Americans had the stronger force, 
and occupied a good position ; but want of courage 
and firmness on the part of some of the leaders, and 
of experience on the part of some of the troops, 
gave the advantage to the British. The Continen- 
tal troops under De Kalb fought long and bravely, 
but were at last overpowered and driven back. De 
Kalb himself was mortally wounded in the contest. 
The shattered army retreated to Charlotte, North 
Carolina, and afterward to Salisbury. A few days 
after the battle of Camden, Sumter, who had led a 
detachment from the main army to intercept sup- 
phes, was attacked and badly defeated by Tarleton. 

Meantime, Colonel Campbell, with a thousand 
men, surprised a party of British at King's Moun- 
tain, and compelled them, after a desperate battle, to 
surrender. The close of this year saw Gornwallis 
still master in the South, and making cruel use of 
his power to induce or compel allegiance to the 
king. 

Arnold's Treason. — The whole country was 
greatly shocked in the autumn of 1780, by the news 
that Benedict Arnold, the brave patriot, who had 
distinguished himself in the earlier struggles of the 



56 1 78 1. [chap. IX. 

war, was a traitor to his country. He had, in 1779, 
been charged by Congress with abusing his trust as 
commandant of Philadelphia, and had been tried 
and removed from office. In July, 1780, he ob- 
tained the command at West Point. This place he 
proposed giving up into the hands of the British. 
In order to complete the arrangements. Major John 
Andre went up from New York, and met Arnold 
near Haverstraw, who, gi\"ing the password, took 
him within the American lines. The next day all 
arrangements were made. West Point was to be 
surrendered, and Arnold was to receive in return 
the rank of brigadier in the British army and ten 
thousand pounds. At night Andre crossed the river, 
and set out by land for New York. When he 
reached Tarrytown, he was stopped by three patriots 
named John Paulding, David Williams, and Isaac 
Van Wart, who searched him, and foimd concealed 
in his stockings, papers containing plans of West 
Point, and instructions for its attack. Scorning 
his offers of payment if they would let him go, they 
took him to the commander at North Castle, who no- 
tified Arnold of his capture. Arnold at once made 
his escape down the river, and was received into the 
British army as arranged. Andre was tried, con- 
demned as a spy, and executed on the 26. of October. 
1781. — Early in this year some of the troops in 
New Jersey, roused by their prolonged sufferings 
and the neglect of Congress, revolted and m.arched 
toward Philadelphia, resisting all General W^ayne's 
efforts to appease them. But even in their anger 
against Congress, they were too loyal to listen to the 
proposals of British agents to desert. They were 
promised food, clothing, and freedom from military 
ser\dce ; but in reply they seized the proposers 
and gave them up as spies. Congress praised their 
action, and yielded to some of their demands. 
When another brigade mutinied a little later. Gene- 
ral Lee put down the disturbance by force. But 



CHAP. IX.] 1 78 1. 57 

Congress, realizing the necessity of providing more 
carefully for the needs of the men upon whom the 
whole cause greatly depended, took measures to 
raise means to do so. At this time the Bank of 
North America was founded : and, to insure the 
credit of the Government, Robert Morris and some 
others pledged their private fortunes. 

The opening month of 1781 saw active prepara- 
tions going on in the South. Greene, who had been 
appointed to the command, no sooner assumed it 
than he set about reorganizing the broken forces. 
The troops were divided into two divisions. Early 
in January, Morgan, who at the head of the western 
division had gone into the northwestern district of 
South Carolina to arouse the militia and put down 
the Tories, was attacked by Tarleton near Cowpens. 
Aware of the enemy's approach, Morgan had taken a 
good position, and met the attack firmly. Tarleton 
was sure of success, when Colonel Washington made 
so desperate a charge that the British turned and 
fled, leaving over five hundred prisoners and some 
ammunition in the hands of the victors. 

As soon as Cornwallis heard of Tarleton's defeat 
he hastened from his camp on the Catawba in pur- 
suit of Morgan. But Greene, too, had heard the 
news. Hastening to Morgan he took command, and 
led a retreat to Charlotte, in the meantime summon- 
ing the- other division under Huger to meet him. 
Across the State they marched, closely pursued by 
Cornwallis. Twice they barely escaped him. Twice 
the British were detained by swollen streams, over 
which the Americans had passed in safety. At last 
the Americans crossed into Virginia, and were 
safe. Here Greene was reinforced by Virginia 
militia, and, as his troops now numbered over four 
thousand men, he resolved to risk a battle. Accord- 
ingly he advanced to Guilford Court House, and 
aAvaited the enemy. On the 15th of March the 
armies met. Although in possession of an advanta- 



58 1 78 1. [chap. IX. 

geous position, Greene's divisions seem to have been 
unwisely posted ; and in the opening contest it hap- 
pened that some raw American troops were opposed 
by some of CornwalHs's best. So that, although the 
Americans fought bravely, they were driven from 
the field and forced to retreat. But in effect the 
defeat was a victory, for Cornwallis soon after left 
for Virginia. 

Greene now advanced toward Camden, where 
Lord Rawdon was stationed with a strong force. 
On the 25th of April, Rawdon made a successful 
attack. Next month, however, he removed his force 
to Eutaw Springs ; and one post after another was 
given up to the Americans. At length, in August, 
Greene advanced against Orangeburg, one of the 
few posts remaining to the British. Finding it 
abandoned, he followed to Eutaw Springs where one 
of the fiercest battles of the war took place. It re- 
sulted in the retreat of the British into Charleston ; 
and as, during the same interval, St. Clair had suc- 
ceeded in driving them from North Carolina, their 
power in the South was evidently at an end. 

Cornwallis, on reaching Virginia, found Arnold in 
supreme command. This general had been placed 
by Clinton at the head of sixteen thousand men, and 
had gone into Virginia to aid the cause of his coun- 
try's enemy. Twice Washington had planned his 
capture, and had failed. When Cornwallis arrived 
he showed his contempt for the traitor by ordering 
him out of the State. Arnold next received a force 
with which he went against New London. Captur- 
ing the town, he forced the garrison to surrender, 
and allowed many of them to be massacred. 

From May to July, Cornwallis spent his time lay- 
ing waste the country, and destroying property in 
Virginia, closely watched meantime by Lafayette, 
who was, however, too weak to meet the enemy in 
the open field. At last, obeying Clinton's orders, 
Cornwallis fortified himself at Yorktown. Lafayette 



CHAP. IX.] 1783- 59 

knew that De Grasse was expected shortly with a 
fleet, and saw that with this fleet to block the mouth 
of the York River, and a force sufficiently powerful 
to oppose him on the peninsula, Cornwallis would 
he completely at their mercy. Accordingly he 
urged Washington to join him, which he did in 
August with his entire force of aUied troops. 
Meantime, the looked-for fleet had arrived, and so, 
too, had a French fleet from Newport, bringing the 
ordnance for a siege. Cflnton, whom Cornwallis 
had besought for aid, had been so sure that Wash- 
ington was planning an attack upon New York that 
he not only refused to send any more troops to 
Virginia, but ordered Cornwallis to be ready to 
send him aid if needed. At last, when informed 
that Washington had moved south, a fleet was sent 
under Graves to the Chesapeake. This the French 
fleet attacked, and compelled to return to New 
York. 

On the 28th of September, the forces, consist- 
ing of seven thousand French and nine thousand 
Americans, were around Yorktown. On the 6th 
of October cannonading began, and continued with- 
out interruption until the 14th, when an assault was 
made which carried the outer w^orks. On the i6th, 
the British, making a sortie, were driven back, and 
Cornwallis, aware that he could neither hold out nor 
retreat, proposed to surrender. On the i8th the 
terms of surrender were signed ; and on the 19th, his 
army of over seven thousand men laid down their 
arms in the presence of the victorious troops. 

On the 23d the news reached Philadelphia, and 
Congress went in a body to the Lutheran church and 
gave thanks. A great throb of joy went through the 
land, for the power of Great Britain in the United 
States was ended forever. 

In 1783 articles of peace were drawn up between 
Great Britain and the United States, of which the 
following were the terms : The independence of the 



6o The Administrations. [chap. x. 

United States was fully recognized ; all the terri- 
tory south of the lakes and east of the Mississippi 
was given up to the United States ; while Great Brit- 
ain retained Canada and Nova Scotia, and control 
of the St. Lawrence. Both countries were to have 
equal right to the fisheries at Newfoundland ; and 
Florida was ceded to Spain. 

On the 25th of November the British evacuated 
New York. Nine days afterward, Washington took 
leave of his officers, and proceeded to Congress to 
resign his commission as commander-in-chief of the 
army. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE ADMINISTRATIONS. 

In 1754, Benjamin Franklin had proposed a union 
of the colonies, but his plan fell to the ground. 
Each colony regarded its own sovereignty as su- 
preme, and was jealous of any general authority. 
During the Revolution, the need of a central power 
was sorely felt ; yet nothing but the greatest neces- 
sity urged the colonies to allow even a Continental 
Congress, and its action was constantly hampered 
by its want of power, for it could not compel the 
colonies to carry out its orders. In June, 1776, a 
committee appointed for that purpose drew up the 
Articles of Confederation, which Congress accepted 
in November, 1777. The legislatures of the various 
States proposed many amendments ; and these hav- 
ing been satisfactorily arranged, all the States but 
Maryland had adopted the Articles by February, 
1779, and Maryland consented in 1781. But as 
soon as Congress met, it was evident that the new 
plan was not much better than the old one. An 
immense war debt was to be paid, and Congress 
could only request the States to raise money for 



CHAP. X.] Washington s Administration. 6i 

that purpose. To this request some responded ; 
some did not. The country was in a most distressed 
condition, and it seemed as if the nation must come 
to ruin. 

After three years of trial and difficulty a new 
plan was proposed. It was now more clearly seen 
what the needs of Congress were ; and Washington 
with some others suggested the calling of a conven- 
tion at Annapohs, in 1786 ; but it did not meet for 
action until the 17th of May, 1787, and then met at 
Philadelphia. After long discussion Randolph pro- 
posed to set aside the old Articles, and adopt a new 
constitution. In September this was done, and the 
Constitution of the United States was sent to the 
several States for acceptance, on the condition that 
it should go into effect as soon as nine of them 
should ratify it. This was done in the following 
order : Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, 
Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, South Caro- 
lina, and New Hampshire. Then, after long debate, 
Virginia and New York. North Carolina did not 
ratify until 1789, and Rhode Island not until 1790. 

The first Wednesday in January, 1789, was the 
day appointed for the election of the first president 
of the United States. There was but one man in 
the people's estimation for the office ; and when the 
ballots of the electors were counted, George Wash- 
ington was unanimously elected president, and John 
Adams vice-president. 

Washington's Administration. — 1789-97. 
— The 4th of March was the day set apart for 
the inauguration of the president ; but it was not 
until the 30th of April that the event took place. 
Then, upon the balcony of the old City Hall, New 
York, Washington took the oath of office, and de- 
livered his inaugural address before the Senate. He 
chose for his Cabinet, Thomas Jefferson, Secretary 
of Foreign Affairs ; Knox, Secretary of War ; Alex- 
ander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, and 



62 Washington s Administration, [chap. x. 

John Jay, Chief Justice. Hamilton brought his 
genius to bear upon the most pressing question of 
the time, and presented to Congress a plan for the 
payment of all debts incurred by the war. Not- 
withstanding great opposition, his plan was accepted ; 
taxes were imposed; and credit established. Dur- 
ing this session, Congress selected Philadelphia as 
the seat of government for ten years, hoping before 
the expiration of that time to choose a permanent 
site for a capital. In 1791 the Bank of the United 
States was established, and in the autumn of the 
same year Vermont was admitted into the Union. 

In 1787, the tract of country knovv'n as the North- 
west Territory, which had in 1783 been ceded to 
the United States by the States to which it belonged, 
was organized. St. Clair was appointed military 
governor ; and it was agreed that when it should be 
divided, not less than three nor more than five States 
should be made from it, and that no slavery should 
be allowed in them. In 1790, war broke out with 
the Miami Indians in this territory. Troops were 
sent out from Fort Washington (now Cincinnati), 
the capital of the territory, but were defeated and 
compelled to return to the fort. In 1 791 the gov- 
ernment sent troops to General St. Clair, and these 
also were defeated. St. Clair then resigned, and 
was succeeded by General Wayne, who, in 1793, 
after building a new fort and garrisoning an old one, 
sent proposals of peace to the Indians. When the 
Indians refused to accept these, he went against 
them, and so completely routed them that they were 
obliged to give up all claim to the territory from 
Fort Recovery, on one of the upper branches of 
the Wabash, to the mouth of the Great Miami 
River. 

In 1792, Kentucky was admitted into the Union. 
In the fall of the same year the presidential election 
took place, and Washington and Adams, were re- 
elected. Difficulties soon arose from the want of 



CHAP. X.] Washington s Administration, 63 

sympathy in State matters between some of the 
members of the cabinet. Two parties had arisen 
in the country. One, the Federalists, who were in 
favor of the new constitution, and the other, the 
Anti-Federahsts, who opposed it. The leaders of 
the first party were Washington, Jay, and Hamilton ; 
while Jefferson was the recognized head of the 
second. In 1794, Jefferson resigned his office ; and 
in 1795, Hamilton also resigned. 

In 1794, the distillers of whisky in Western Penn- 
sylvania refused to pay the taxes which the govern- 
ment had imposed upon that article, and arose in 
arms against the tax officers. The president sent 
troops to put down the disturbance, but the rioters 
had disbanded before they arrived. This is known 
as the Whisky Riot. 

Considerable damage was done in 1793 to Amer- 
ican commerce by the seizure of trading vessels by 
British privateers. In consequence of which Jay 
was sent to England in 1794, to demand redress; 
and a treaty was concluded in November. Great 
hostiUty to this treaty existed in parts of the coun- 
try, but it was ratified at last, and war was averted 
by England ceding certain Western posts to the 
United States. In 1795, by a treaty with Spain, the 
boundary between the United States and Florida 
was determined, and unrestricted use of the Missis- 
sippi insured. In the same year the government 
agreed to pay the Dey of Algiers a certain amount 
of money yearly, in order to prevent the seizure of 
American merchant vessels by the pirates of that 
country. 

In 1796, Tennessee asked for and obtained ad- 
mission into the Union. Before the elections this 
year, Washington declared his intention of not be- 
coming a candidate for re-election. The division 
between the parties was stronger than before, for 
they differed not only upon the constitution, but 
also upon matters of State policy ; especially upon 



64 Adams* Administration. [chap. x. 

those referring to the relations proper between the 
United States and France. The Anti-Federahsts 
desired to take up the cause of the French Repub- 
lic ; while the Federalists desired America to be free 
from all alliance with foreign nations. Both parties 
put up their candidates — Adams, of the Federal, 
and Jefferson, of the Anti-Federal. Adams, receiv- 
ing the greatest number of votes, became president, 
and Jefferson, receiving the next highest, became 
vice-president. 

Adams' Administration.— 1797-1801.— John 
Adams, the second president of the United States, 
had been a delegate from Massachusetts to the Co- 
lonial Congress, and one of the committee to draw 
up the Declaration of Independence. He was the 
first Minister to Great Britain from the United 
States as an independent government, and had 
served in other official capacities. 

The French Revolution was now in progress, and 
a large part of the Americans, urged on by the 
French Minister, were anxious that the government 
should ally itself with the French Republic. The 
president, in spite of strong opposition, insisted 
upon strict neutrality. Whereupon the French Di- 
rectory demanded an alliance, ordered its men-of- 
war to interfere with American commerce, and fi- 
nally dismissed the American Minister from Paris. 
Gerry, Marshall, and Pinckney, were sent to Paris to 
attempt a settlement ; but the Directory refused to 
receive them, unless a quarter million of dollars were 
first paid down as restitution for injuries which they 
pretended to have received by Jay's treaty with 
Great Britain. This the ambassadors refused, and 
they, too, were ordered to leave. In 1798, prepara- 
tions were made for war. The army was organized, 
and a navy fitted out for the protection of American 
commerce. In the next year Admiral Truxton won 
renown by his services. On one occasion, he at- 
tacked and took a French man-of-war with a force 




c 

^^-'> ISLANDS .tCr* C 




ACQUISITION OF TERRITORY 



SCALE OF MILES 



100 300 5(10 

NOTE- Thefiffures on eaelt Scale give the year of iU admission into the U 



CHAP. X.] Jefferson s Administration. 65 

vastly superior to his own ; and on another, his suc- 
cess was only prevented by a sudden storm. 

The French Minister, Talleyrand, seeing these 
preparations, asked that some one might be sent to 
treat for peace. But, before an ambassador could 
reach Paris, Bonaparte had overthrown the Direc- 
tory, and had made himself master of France. He 
was anxious for peace with America, seeing that 
otherwise she must ally herself with the greatest 
enemy of France, England. Accordingly peace was 
signed in September, 1800. The year 1800, the 
last of Adams' administration, was saddened by the 
death of Washington. Even those who had been 
opposed ^o him in some of his political views, 
mourned the loss of one who had ever been ready 
to lay aside everything at his country's call. 

The strife between the political parties had in- 
creased with time and with the passage of some 
unpopular acts. Among these Avere the " Alien and 
Sedition Laws," the first of which gave the president 
power to remove from the country any foreigner 
who might be thought dangerous to the United 
States ; while the second interfered with the free- 
dom of the press when it was directed against the 
government. The elections at the close of this year 
caused, therefore, great excitement. The Federal- 
ists offered Adams and Pinckney as their candi- 
dates ; the Democrats (as they were now called) 
offered Jefferson and Burr. As the two latter re- 
ceived an equal number of votes, the election was 
referred to the House of Representatives, where, 
after repeated balloting, Jefferson was chosen presi- 
dent, and Aaron Burr vice-president. 

Jefferson's Administration. — 1801-1809. — 
Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia, the well-known 
author of the Declaration of Independence, began 
his administration by removing from office all whose 
political principles did not agree with his own — a 
precedent which has been followed by every presi- 



66 Jefferson s Administration, [chap. x. 

dent who has succeeded him. He next caused 
some of the unpopular laws of the preceding ad- 
ministration to be repealed. 

The changes in the West were among the most 
important events of this administration. In 1802 
the state of Ohio was withdrawn from the Northwest 
Territory and admitted into the Union ; and the re- 
mainder of the tract became known as the Indiana 
Territory. At the same time the land from Georgia 
westward to the Mississippi was formed into the 
Mississippi Territory. In 1800, Spain had ceded the 
Territory of Louisiana to France ; and now Napo- 
leon, finding that it would be difficult to manage a 
colony so far away, listened willingly to proposals 
from the United States to purchase it. Accordingly, 
for the sum of about fourteen million dollars, the 
United States came into possession of the immense 
tract of land having for its boundary on the north 
the forty-ninth degree of latitude ; on the east the 
Mississippi River and Florida ; on the south the 
Gulf of Mexico ; and on the west the Sabine River, 
the Red River, the mountains north of the Arkan- 
sas River, until the forty-second degree of latitude 
was reached, when the Pacific became the western 
boundary. 

In 1803, the government sent a naval force to the 
Mediterranean to protect American commerce, 
which was suffering at the hands of the states on the 
north coast of Africa. In February, 1804, Commo- 
dore Decatur, in the Intrepid^ made a brave capture 
of the frigate Philadelphia, which had been taken by 
the Tripolitans the year previous. Slipping cauti- 
ously into the harbor of Tripoli, he lashed the In- 
trepid to the Philadelphia, and boarded her, over- 
powering the crew ; after which he set fire to her, 
and then escaped without losing a man, though 
under heavy fire from the guns of the fort. Com- 
modore Preble arrived in July, and commenced the 
siege of Tripoli ; and, with the aid of the deposed 



CHAP. X.] Jefferson s Administration. 6/ 

brother of the sovereign, brought the Tripolitans to 
terms. A treaty was concluded in 1805. 

In the summer of 1804, Burr, the vice-president, 
angered by Hamilton's frequent interference in his 
ambitious aims, challenged him, and, in the duel 
which followed, killed him. Fleeing from New- 
York, where public opinion was strong against him, 
Burr went west, and two years afterward was 
accused of being concerned in a conspiracy to raise 
troops to get control of Mexico, and then to erect a 
new republic in the southwest. As there was not 
sufficient evidence to convict him, he was acquitted. 
But owing to his unpopularity, which was now very 
great, he went into voluntary exile. 

Meantime Jefferson was re-elected in 1804, and 
George Clinton of New York made vice-president. 
The government was at this time greatly troubled 
by the state of American commerce. France and 
England were at war ; and, in order to inflict the 
more injury upon each other other, each forbade 
neutral vessels to enter the ports of the other. In 
May, 1806, England declared France to be in a 
state of blockade — that is, she placed vessels outside 
the ports of France to prevent trading vessels from 
entering or leaving them. As the neutral vessels 
knew nothing of this, they were captured. In No- 
vember of the same year France declared the British 
Isles in a state of blockade, and French vessels 
were at hand to capture unwary ships. Next, Great 
Britain claimed the right of boarding American ves- 
sels, and seizing any person who had been born in 
her territories, and impressing them into her service. 
At last, on the 22d of June, 1807, the British man-of- 
war Leopard approached and hailed the American 
frigate Chesapeake when off the coast of Virginia. The 
officers went on board and insisted on searching the 
vessel. This was refused, and, before the ship could 
be made ready for action, the Leopard fired upon 
her and compelled her surrender. This roused both 



68 Madison s Administration, [chap. xi. 

president and people. Reparation was demanded, 
which was promised but never made. Then the 
president issued the Embargo, which prohibited 
British vessels from entering any American port. 
But this also prevented American vessels from pass- 
ing out, and, with two other acts of the same time, 
came near destroying her commerce. These two 
acts were, first, the British Orders in Council, which 
forbade all trade with France and her allies ; and, 
second, Napoleon's Milan Decree, which forbade all 
trade with England and her allies. 

During this administration Robert Fulton applied 
steam to purposes of navigation, and in 1807 launched 
the first steamboat on the Hudson River, He also 
invented a torpedo for use in naval warfare. 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE ADMINISTRATIONS — CONTINUED. — WAR OF l8l2. 

Madison's Administration. — 1809-1817.— 

James Mc4.dison found himself at the head of a na- 
tion in troublous times. France had removed all 
her restrictions on American commerce ; but Eng- 
land continued her overbearing measures. Six thou- 
sand American citizens had been seized and forced 
into the British service, and the people would 
bear this no longer. Although the president would 
have preferred to settle the matter, if possible, with- 
out war, those who served under him were violent 
in their hatred of Great Britain. In November, 
181 1, Congress met, and it was evident that war 
must come. And yet it seemed a daring thing to 
propose : for America had no army, and a very in- 
ferior navy, manned by inexperienced seamen ; while- 
Great Britain had an immense army in the field 
which Napoleon's advance on Russia had left with- 
out fear of immediate action, and a large and finely- 
manned navy. 



CHAP. XI.] Madison s Administration. 69 

But two special acts had roused the people. In 
May, 181 1, Commodore Rodgers, cruising off the 
coast of Virginia, hailed a vessel, and in reply re- 
ceived a succession of shots. Rodgers replied in 
the same way, and silenced his enemy, which proved 
to be the British ship Little Belt, In February, 
181 2, a conspiracy between Great Britain and the 
governor of Canada for the destruction of the United 
States was discovered. Some of the New England 
States were opposed to the Democratic administra- 
tion, and the conspirators hoped to win over these 
States to secede. But they signally failed, and the 
discovery of the attempt only strengthened the feel- 
ing of hostility. 

In 181 2, while war was pending, Louisiana was ad- 
mitted into the Union. On the 19th, of June the 
president issued a proclamation declaring war against 
Great Britain, and Congress ordered twenty-five 
thousand regular troops and fifty thousand volun- 
teers, and called upon the States to protect their 
coasts and harbors with their militia. Henry Dear- 
born, of Massachusetts, was appointed commander- 
in-chief. 

In 1 8 10, a war occurred with the Indians in the 
North-west. Jealous of the advance of the white 
man, the Indian tribes were aroused by Tecumseh 
to lay aside all jealousy of each other, and unite for 
the expulsion of the intruders. When Harrison, 
governor of the Territory, offered to buy their lands, 
Tecumseh refused to sign the treaty, and determined 
to get back what had already been ceded. Harri- 
son then decided to enforce the treaty, and advanced 
to the mouth of the Tippecanoe. Here, while wait- 
ing for a conference with the chiefs, the troops were 
suddenly attacked by the Indians. The attack was, 
however, promptly met and the Indians were routed ; 
after which Tecumseh gave up his design, and allied 
himself with the British in Canada. 

The first action of the war with England was a 



70 Madison's Admiitistration. [chap, xi, 

movement by the Americans to overawe the Indians 
on the North-west frontier, and to invade Canada. 
For this purpose General WilHam Hull advanced 
with twelve hundred Ohio volunteers toward De- 
troit. The vessel containing his stores and dispatches 
was seized on the way by the British commander at 
Maiden, who had been informed of the declaration 
of war. Hull then determined upon attacking Mai- 
den, and on the 12th of July crossed the Detroit. 
But before preparations were completed, news came 
of the loss of the post on the Mackinaw, and the de- 
feat of a body of reinforcements on its way to him. 
He, therefore, recrossed to Detroit ; and when the 
British, who had been strengthened, advanced upon 
him there in August, Hull, overestimating his ene- 
my's force, offered to surrender. 

The day before this occurred, a body of Indians 
fell upon Fort Dearborn (Chicago), and, forcing its 
surrender, killed or took prisoners most of its people. 

An attack made from New York upon Queens- 
town in October, was at first successful, but the 
place was retaken by the British very soon afterward. 
Another party in November crossed from near Buf- 
falo, but were recalled by their commander. 

But while the Americans were so unsuccessful on 
land, their navy was winning a reputation for itself. 
On the 19th of August, the American frigate Constitu- 
tion fell in with the Gnerriere off the coast of Massa- 
chusetts. The Guerriere opened fire, but the Con- 
stitution poured such a broadside upon her that she 
was compelled to strike her flag ; after which, her 
prisoners were taken off, and she was burnt. On the 
1 8th of October, the Wasp, under Captain Jones, be- 
tween Cape Cod and the Bermudas, met six British 
merchant-men and the Frolic^ which offered battle. 
After a furious fire the vessels came close together, 
and the Wasfs men boarded the F?'olic and lowered 
her flag. Almost immediately, however, the British 
ship Poictiers came upon the scene of action, and 



CHAP. XI.] I813. ^ 71 

carried off both the vessels. On the 25th of the 
same month, the United States, under Commodore 
Decatur, attacked and captured the Macedonian 
near the Canary Islands. On the 26th, the Essex 
sailed from Delaware, and, later in the winter, took 
a British ship with about fifty thousand dollars on 
board. Th?n she sailed for the Pacific, where, after 
doing great harm to British merchantmen through- 
out 1813, she was herself captured in the spring of 
1814. 

In the autumn of 181 2, Madison was reelected, 
and Elbridge Gerry, of Massachusetts, elected vice- 
president. Measures for strengthening the army 
and navy were passed in Congress. 

1813. — In January, an army under General Win- 
chester undertook to regain the points lost by Hull 
in the previous campaign. An attack by an advance 
force upon Frenchtown, where a body of British and 
Indians were posted, resulted in the capture of the 
town. Here they were joined by the main army, 
and here the British, in a few days, attacked them. 
After severe fighting, with great loss on both sides, 
Winchester advised surrender. Notwithstanding his 
promise of safety, Proctor left the wounded prisoners 
to be massacred by the Indians. On the istof May, 
two thousand British and Indians besieged General 
Harrison at Fort Meigs ; and, but for a mistaken 
movement on the part of a division of reinforce- 
ments from Kentucky, the British would have been 
completely routed. As it was, Proctor was obliged 
to abandon the idea of taking the fort, and retreated 
to Maiden. After three months he made another 
attempt, and again failed. He next made an at- 
tempt at Lower Sandusky. Here he also failed, 
and with great loss. 

Up to this time the results had been unimportant. 
Little had been gained or lost ; but now an attempt 
was made by the Americans to get control of Lake 
Erie, and so of its shores. This task was given to 



72 .^ I813. [CHAP. XI. 

a young Rhode Island man, Oliver Perry. Under 
his direction, a small fleet of nine ships was built ; 
and in September met the British fleet of six ships, 
commanded by Barclay, a skilled officer, at Put-in 
Bay. Perry, in his flag-ship, the Lawrence^ began 
the attack. The Lawi-ence was soon a wreck ; but 
Perry crossing to another ship in an open boat, and, 
amid the fierce fire of the enemy, took a fresh start 
and broke through the enemy's line, pouring from 
both sides of his vessel a deadly fire. In fifteen 
minutes he forced the enemy to surrender. Two 
armies were awaiting the result of this battle. Im- 
mediately after the victory. General Harrison crossed 
to Maiden, and began a pursuit of the retreating 
British. The latter were overtaken at the Thames, 
and completely routed. Tecumseh was killed, and 
the Indians subdued. 

Perry's victory on Lake Erie had been followed 
by a like success on Lake Ontario by Chauncey. 
And, in April, General Dearborn crossed from 
Sackett's Harbor to make an attack upon To- 
ronto, an important post of the British. On the 
27th seventeen hundred men made the attack, 
and, although they were met with great force by 
the British, succeeded in driving them from the 
town. They then recrossed the Niagara to Fort 
George, from which the British retreated. But the 
Americans pursued, overtook, and defeated them. 
Meantime the British attacked Sackett's Harbor, 
which had been left undefended, but the militia was 
called out, and they were driven back with heavy loss. 

No further action took place until November, 
when the conquest of Montreal was attempted. 
General Wilkinson, with seven thousand men, left 
French Creek, and sailed down the St. Lawrence, 
their passage being constantly opposed by the Brit- 
ish and Indians on the shores. On the nth a se- 
vere battle was fought, after which the Americans 
went to St. Regis, where they awaited forces from 



CHAP. XI.] 1 8 14. 73 

Plattsburg. As these did not arrive, they went into 
winter-quarters at the Salmon River. Meantime Fort 
Niagara was captured by the British, and Buffalo 
burnt. 

At sea the American navy did not meet with the 
success of the previous year. On February 24th, a 
severe battle took place between the British brig 
Peacock and the American sloop Hornet^ in which 
the Americans were victorious. On June ist, the 
Chesapeake, under Captain Lawrence, answered a 
challenge from the Shannon, and the furious action 
which followed resulted in the boarding and capture 
of the Chesapeake. Lawrence himself made a brave 
fight, but fell mortally w^ounded. On August 14th, 
the American Argus was captured off the coast of 
England by the Pelican ; and on September 5th, 
the Enteipi'ise captured the British brig Boxer. 

In August of this year, the Creek Indians of 
Alabama, who had taken up arms in sympathy with 
the Indians of the North, surprised Fort Mimms, near 
Mobile, and massacred nearly all its inhabitants. 

An army was raised, and General Jackson, at the 
head of a force from Tennessee, entered the State 
from the north, and attacked and defeated the In- 
dians at several points. At last they intrenched 
themselves at Horse Shoe Bend, and here Jackson 
surrounded and destroyed them almost to a man. 

1814. — Another invasion of Canada was deter- 
mined upon for the spring ; but there was so much 
delay in getting ready that it was not until July 3d 
that Generals Scott and Ripley crossed to Fort Erie, 
which immediately surrendered. Next day, on their 
way down the Chippewa River, they were met by the 
British under General Riall, and a severe battle en- 
sued, in which the Americans were successful. Gen- 
eral Riall retreated to Burlington Heights ; and on 
the 23d, Scott found the enemy strongly posted 
near Niagara Falls. A battle followed which lasted 
until darkness fell, but neither side would yield. 



74 1 8 14' [chap. XI, 

Then General Riall and his staff were captured, and 
a detachment was sent under Colonel Miller to take 
a battery upon a commanding hill. When this was 
gained the British were driven from the field. This 
was the most severe battle of the war ; the British 
loss being nearly nine hundred, and the American 
over eight hundred. After the battle of Niagara, the 
American army returned to Fort Erie. Here the 
British, under General Drummond, began a siege 
on the 4th of August, which lasted with varying 
success until the 17 th of September, when the ad- 
vance works of the British were destroyed ; and, 
hearing that reinforcements were expected, they re- 
treated to Fort George. The Americans, after de- 
stroying Fort Erie, went into winter-quarters at Buf- 
falo. 

The invasion was also attempted in the North by 
General Wilkinson, who, however, only reached the 
Sorel River, when he was repulsed and obliged to 
fall back to Plattsburg. Here he was superseded by 
General Izard. But the British now determined to 
invade New York, and get control of Lake Champlain, 
which was occupied by Commodore MacDonough. 
General Prevost reached Plattsburg ; then for four 
days he tried to cross the Saranac River, but was kept 
back the while by General Macomb. When the 
British fleet was ready to assist, a united attack was 
planned. On the nth of September the fleet opened 
the battle with MacDonough ; and although the 
American ships were soon badly shattered, the British 
were more so, and were obliged to strike their col- 
ors. On land the British were overpowering the 
Americans with their numbers, when the news of 
the naval victory so inspirited them, that Prevost 
was obliged to retreat. He then went back into 
Canada. 

The war on the Canada frontier was now over ; 
but it still raged in other parts of the country. In 
August, a fleet bearing four thousand soldiers entered 



CHAP, XI.] 1 8 14. 75 

Chesapeake Bay, where the American fleet was too 
weak to oppose them. Landing, they proceeded at 
once to Washington, defeated the mihtia who tried 
to prevent their advance, and burned the city. Then 
they advanced upon Baltimore. Here, however, 
they were checked by the miUtia, and withdrew to 
their ships. 

The last land contest of the war took place in the 
South. In August, by permission of the Spanish 
authorities, there was fitted out at Pensacola a fleet 
of British ships, for the purpose of besieging Mobile. 
General Jackson, after remonstrating in vain with 
the authorities, marched against Pensacola and drove 
the British out. Learning that they intended the 
conquest of Louisiana, he prepared for its defense. 
On the 23d of December Generals Jackson and 
Coffee advanced to meet the British, under Sir 
Edward Packenham, and were obliged to retreat. 
But Jackson took his position a little below New 
Orleans, and awaited the enemy. On the 28th can- 
nonading commenced, but without success. On the 
8th of January the British advanced for an assault. 
Jackson, intrenched behind earthworks, defended by 
sand-bags and cotton-bales, poured such a deadly 
fire upon the British columns that they were nearly 
destroyed. Their loss was seven hundred, while 
that of the Americans was but eight killed and 
thirteen wounded. 

Peace had been arranged on December 24th, at 
Ghent ; but the news had not yet reached the United 
States, and it was not until the i8th of February 
that the treaty was ratified. The navies, still igno- 
rant of the fact, carried on hostilities until spring. 
The Constitution^ off Cape St. Vincent, captured two 
ships after severe fighting ; and later, off Brazil, 
the Hornet captured the Penguin. 

News of the peace was received with great joy, 
for the commerce of the Eastern States had been 
destroyed by the war on the seas. The coast from 



'j6 Monroe s Administratioii. [chap. xii. 

Maine to Delaware was blockaded, and the financial 
affairs of the country were in a wretched condition. 

No sooner had the treaty of Ghent been ratified 
than the United States were obliged to undertake 
another war. This time it was against the pirates of 
the Mediterranean, who renewed their attacks upon 
American merchant ships. Commodore Decatur 
commanded the fleet of nine vessels, and, on the 
17th and 19th of June, 1814, captured Moorish 
frigates carrying a number of men. Then he went 
to Algiers, and demanded a treaty. By this treaty 
the Dey gave up all claim to tribute, and promised 
no further interference. The same course was pur- 
sued with Tripoli and Tunis. 

In 1 8 16, Indiana was admitted into the Union, 
and at the same time a colony for free negroes was 
established in Liberia. The result of the elections 
held this year was that James Monroe became pres- 
ident, and Daniel Tompkins, vice-president. 



CHAPTER XII. 

THE ADMINISTRATIONS CONTINUED. 

Monroe's Administration. — 1817 - 1825. — 

Jhe important event of this administration was the 
admission of new States, and the questions that arose 
thereupon. In 181 7, Mississippi was organized as a 
State, and admitted. Illinois was admitted in 181 8, 
and Alabama in 1819. In the latter year a bill pro- 
posing the formation of the territories of Missouri 
and Arkansas was brought before Congress. A hot 
debate followed as to whether slavery should or 
should not be prohibited in the new territories, 
which resulted in their formation without any re- 
strictions concerning slavery. But in the next year, 
when Missouri sought admission as a State, it was 
opposed by the enemies of slavery. At the same 
time, however, Maine was asking the same thing, 



CHAP. XII.] Jackson s Administration. yy 

and those who desired slavery in Missouri were de- 
termined to oppose the admission of Maine. In 
order to settle the dispute, the Missouri Compromise 
was passed. Both States were admitted ; Missouri 
as a slave state. But the bill provided that there- 
after slavery should not exist in the States formed 
from the Louisiana territory north of parallel thirty- 
six degrees, thirty minutes ; and that it might exist 
in States formed south of that line if the people of 
those States so willed. 

The Spanish colonies in South America, having 
revolted from their sovereign, had resolved them- 
selves into republics. In 1822 their independence 
was acknowledged by the United States govern- 
ment ; and when it seemed possible that an attempt 
would be made by the allied powers of Europe, to 
wrest from them their liberty, the United States 
interfered, and the president declared that the 
American continents " were not to be considered 
as subjects for future colonization by any Euro- 
pean power." This has since been known as the 
Monroe Doctrine. 

John Quincy Adams' Administration.— 
1825-1829. — In 1826 a treaty was concluded with 
the Creek Indians in Georgia by which they gave 
up all their lands in that State, and agreed to move 
beyond the Mississippi. Treaties were also con- 
cluded with the Kansas Indians and the Osages of 
Arkansas, by which their lands were ceded to the 
United States. 

In 1826, on the fiftieth anniversary of the sign- 
ing of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson 
and John Adams died. One had written, and both 
had signed the Declaration ; and both had been 
presidents of the nation which it had brought into 
existence. 

Jackson's Administration. —1829 - 1837. — 
The tariff bill, which had been brought forward but 
not settled during the preceding administration, 



78 Jackson s Administration, [chap. xii. 

came up again in the early part of this. By its 
provisions a revenue tax was imposed upon certain 
imported goods. Several of the States opposed the 
bill, and South Carolina went so far as to declare 
the law unconstitutional, and to refuse payment. 
The question was debated in the Senate ; but the 
president not waiting for it to be decided in that 
way, first issued a proclamation in which he denied 
the right of any State to set at nought an act of 
Congress, and then ordered troops to the disaffected 
State. The matter was amicably settled by a com- 
promise suggested by Henry Clay. 

In 1832 a proposal was made to recharter the 
Bank of the United States, whose charter would 
expire in 1836. This was strongly opposed by the 
president, and his opposition raised a strong party 
against him called the Whig party, the leaders of 
which were Webster, Clay, and Calhoun. 

Certain lands in Wisconsin Territory, purchased 
from the Indians a few years before, had not been set- 
tled by whites, and the Indians still held them. Now, 
when they were wanted, the Indians refused to give 
them up. A force was sent against them, and sev- 
eral battles followed, in one of which their chief. 
Black Hawk, was taken prisoner. He advised his 
people to yield to the demands of the whites, and 
they withdrew, into Iowa. 

In 1834, the Indian Territory was organized in 
order that the Cherokee Indians, formerly in Geor- 
gia, might have a home beyond the Mississippi. 
They proved unwillmg to go, however, until forced 
to do so by United States troops ; and even 
then it was not until 1838 that the removal was 
complete. 

The Seminoles in Florida also disputed their 
treaty, and m 1835 ^^^^ broke out with them. Sev- 
eral battles were fought at the Withlacoochie, at 
Fort Drane, and at Wahoo Swamp. But no decis- 
ive result was reached. In 1837, the war was re- 



CHAP. XII.] Vail Btirens Administration. 79 

newed. In the fall, Osceola, the chief of the nation, 
was taken prisoner ; but the war went on until De- 
cember 25th, 1838, when Colonel Taylor marched 
into the Everglades, and fought a desperate battle, 
in which the savages were defeated. In the next 
year, the chiefs signed a treaty, and agreed to re- 
move to the "West. 

In 1836, Arkansas was admitted into the Union ; 
and Michigan Territory w?.s organized as a State, and 
admitted the next year. At the elections of 1836, 
Martin Van Buren was chosen president, and Rich- 
ard M. Johnson, vice-president. 

Van Buren's Administration. — 1837- 1841. 
— In the first year of this administration, the country 
was distressed by a financial panic. Speculation had 
increased greatly, and business was to a great extent 
conducted upon a credit system. Jackson had issued 
the specie circular, which demanded that all pay- 
ments for public lands should be made in coin. It 
was not until the present administration that the ef- 
fect was felt, and the result was panic. A session 
of Congress was called for the purpose of devising 
some method by which relief might be obtained. 
A way was devised at the next session, and business 
began to revive. In 1838, the banks resumed pay- 
ment. 

In 1837, some Canadians conceived the idea of 
revolting fiom Great Britain. Many were found in 
the United States to sympathize with the movement, 
and especially in New York. A party from the lat- 
ter State seized an island in the Niagara River, and 
fortified it. But the government interfered, and order 
was restored. 

As early as the winter of 1839 the question of the 
next president began to be considered. The present 
administration was blamed for all the distress which 
the people had suffered, and when the elections took 
place, Van Buren was defeated for a second term, and 
General Harrison, the Whig candidate, chosen. 



8o Harrison — Tyler Administration, [chap. xii. 

Harrison and Tyler's Administration. — 
1841-1845. — One month after his inauguration, the 
president died, and was succeeded by the vice-presi- 
dent, John Tyler. Tyler's first official action was 
a great disappointment to the party that had made 
him president : he refused to recharter the Bank of the 
United States. In consequence, every member of 
his cabinet resigned except Webster, the secretary 
of state. And it was fortunate that he did not fol- 
low the example of his colleagues ; for his skill was 
needed in order that a difficulty with Great Britain 
concerning the north-eastern boundary of the United 
States might be peaceably settled. 

In 1842, the people of Rhode Island had a do- 
mestic quarrel over a new charter, and matters went 
so far that troops were sent to restore order. In the 
same year was erected the Bunker Hill monument, 
the corner stone of which had been laid by General 
Lafayette in 1825. 

In the latter part of this administration the Mor- 
mons, who had settled first in Missouri, and then in 
Illinois, we^e forced to remove farther West. In or- 
der to be beyond reach of hostility, they crossed 
the Rocky Mountains, and settled in what has since 
become Utah Territory. 

Now another event stirred and divided the people. 
In 1835, Texas, weary of her oppressive government, 
resolved to separate from Mexico. Accordingly, the 
Texans took up arms, and in a battle in April, 1836, 
gained a decisive victory. As soon as its indepen- 
dence was recognized, Texas sought admission into 
the United States. Van Buren feared war with 
Mexico, and denied the request. The question 
came up again in 1844, and upon this the election 
of the next president was based. The Democrats 
favored, the Whigs opposed, annexation. The an- 
nexation party carried the day. James K. Polk was 
elected, and Texas was admitted early in the follow- 
ing year. 




RUSSELL d STRUTHERa.N.y 



CHAP. XIII.] PoWs Administration. 8 1 

In 1844, the Morse telegraph was established. 
After several years of experimenting and of delay, a 
line was set up between Baltimore and Washington, 
and the first message sent over it, carried the news 
of Polk's nomination. 



CHAPTER XIII. ^ 

THE ADMINISTRATIONS CONTINUED. — THE MEXI- 
CAN WAR. 

Polk's Administration. — 1845-49. — As soon 
as the annexation was confirmed, Texas asked the 
president to send some troops to protect her in case 
of trouble with Mexico, as a dispute had already 
arisen concerning the boundary line. The Texans 
claimed the Rio Grande as the w^estern boundary, 
and the Mexicans claimed the Nueces. When the 
Mexicans refused to settle the matter by treaty, 
American forces were sent under General Zachary 
Taylor to the Rio Grande ; and, on the eighth of 
March, 1846, he took his position near that river at 
Fort Brown. 

On April 26th, the Mexicans under General Arista 
occupied. Matamoras, while others crossed the river, 
and hostilities commenced. By the time that Tay- 
lor had secured his stores at Point Isabel, the Mexi- 
cans had taken a stand at Palo Alto. Here, on 
May 8th, the Americans met them. A severe en- 
gagement took place, in which the Mexicans, though 
vastly superior in numbers, were defeated. On his 
way back to Fort Brown, Taylor again met the 
Mexicans in strong position at Resaca de la Palma. 
Here they made a far more desperate fight, but again 
were beaten, and fled across the river. 

As soon as the news of these battles reached 
Washington, Congress authorized the president to 
call for volunteers. Fifty thousand men and ten 
6 



82 Polk's Administration. [chap. xm. 

million dollars were raised, and the troops organized 
into three divisions : one, under General Scott, to go 
to the capital of Mexico ; one, under General Kear- 
ney, to enter Mexico from the North ; and one, under 
General Taylor, to hold the disputed territory. 

After the battle of Resaca de la Palma, General 
Taylor captured Matamoras, and then marched to- 
ward Monterey. The Mexicans, ten thousand strong, 
occupied the city under General Ampudia ; and, on 
the 19th of September, Taylor, with six thousand, 
began the siege. Some heights in the rear of the 
town were taken on the 21st, and on the 23d the 
Americans forced an entrance into the town. On 
the 24th it capitulated. The Mexicans now made 
Santa Anna their president, and raised twenty 
thousand men. The Americans, too, were active ; 
and, by the end of the year, several towns had 
fallen into their hands. 

In the meantime. General Kearney had crossed 
the Rocky Mountains, entered New Mexico, cap- 
tured Santa Fe, and in August received submission 
from the entire territory. He then passed on with 
part of his force to California, where John C. Fre- 
mont, hearing of the existence of war, had rallied 
the people to throw off the Mexican yoke. By 
January 8th, 1847, the authority of the United 
States was established there. Meantime, the re- 
mainder of Kearney's army had niarched from Santa 
Fe into Mexico, and, defeating a large opposing 
force, entered Chihuahua on February 28th, 1847. 

Santa Anna, with twenty thousand men, was ad- 
vancing meantime against Saltillo, where General 
Taylor had only six thousand men to oppose him. 
But the Americans chose a suitable battle-ground 
at Buena Vista, and waited. On the 28th of 
February Santa Anna sent demands for a surrender, 
which were, of course, refused. The next morn- 
ing the battle was opened. Every onset of the 
Mexicans was repulsed by the Americans. Once 



CHAP. XIII.] Polk's Administration. 83 

a regiment mistook an order, and placed the army 
in a dangerous position ; but the other troops ral- 
lied, and the field was won against fearful odds. 

At the beginning of 1847, Scott arrived at the 
scene of action, and took some of Taylor's troops 
to join his own in an expedition into the heart of 
the country. In March, he landed at Vera Cruz 
with twelve thousand men. The city was strongly 
fortified, and guarded by numbers superior to those 
under Scott ; but by the end of the month it was 
forced to surrender. Santa Anna held Cerro Gordo, 
but it surrendered ; and shortly afterward Jalapa, 
which was supposed to be impregnable, did the same. 
Then Perote, then Puebla, which, though having 
eighty thousand inhabitants, offered no resistance 
to the small army. Scott's forces, now somewhat re- 
duced, were reinforced, and he began his march to 
Mexico. Not only was the city difficult of access 
and well defended, but the road to it lay past sev- 
eral strong castles and fortresses. Bat Scott was 
determined to reach the city. On August 29th, one 
of the outposts, Contreras, was taken ; then San 
Antonio, then Churubusco. Scott then rested his 
forces until September 7th. Then Chapultepec was 
carried ; and, on the night of the 13th the city of 
Mexico was evacuated by the government, and the 
American flag was raised next day in the capital. 
The Mexicans made attempts to regain some of the 
captured cities, but they were unsuccessful. 

Early in 1848, peace was concluded. The Rio 
Grande was made the western boundary of Texas, 
and New Mexico and California ceded to the United 
States ; in return for which the United States prom- 
ised to pay fifteen million dollars to Mexico. 

Shortly after the cession of California, great ex- 
citement was caused by the discovery of gold on 
the Sacramento River. People flocked thither from 
the East, and from all parts of the old world, and 
the population grew with great rapidity. 



84 Taylor — Fillmore Administration, [chap. xm. 

In the meantime, Florida and Iowa had been 
admitted into the Union; the former in 1845, and 
the latter in 1846. In 1848, Wisconsin was admitted. 
In the fall of this year, General Zachary Taylor 
being the popular favorite, was chosen president, 
with Millard Fillmore as vice-president. 
• Taylor and Fillmore's Administration. — 
1849-1853. — The organization of California led to 
severe disputes in Congress. By the constitution 
which California adopted, slavery was prohibited in 
her territory ; and when she asked to be admitted 
into the Union, the Southern States wished to refuse 
because of her determination regarding slavery. 
They claimed that as the line fixed by the Missouri 
Compromise passed through the territory, slavery 
ought not to be prohibited. Another cause for agi- 
tation, throughout not only Congress but the whole 
country, was that Texas, a slave State, insisted that 
New Mexico belonged to her territory ; while New 
Mexico claimed a separate government. In 1850, 
Henry Clay offered his celebrated Omnibus Bill, 
which provided for all the disputed points, and its 
passage allayed, for the time, the difficulties. 

While this bill was before Congress, the president 
died, and Fillmore assumed the duties of the office. 
During this year an attempt at revolution took place 
in Cuba, with the aid or at the instigation of some 
American adventurers, and failed. A second at- 
tempt was made the next year, which resulted in the 
defeat of the insurgents, and the execution of their 
leader. 

A dispute arose with Englrnd concerning the 
Newfoundland fisheries, which tnreatened the coun- 
try with trouble ; but it was settled by treaty in 
1854. Three statesmen died during this adminis- 
tration — John C. Calhoun, Henry Clay, and Daniel 
Webster. 

The point on which the result of the elections of 
1852 depended was the Compromise of 1850. The 



CHAP. XIII.] Pierce s Admmistration, 85 

Whigs and Democrats agreed that its provisions 
should be adhered to. Another party, which had 
arisen out of the slavery disputes, the Free Soil 
party, thought these provisions unwise. The Demo- 
cratic candidate, Franklin Pierce, was elected. 

Pierce's Administration. — 1853 - 1857.— In 
the first year of this administration the route for a 
railroad to the Pacific was explored ; a possible 
second war with Mexico was averted by the pur- 
chase of some land which both Mexico and New 
Mexico claimed ; and a treaty with Japan w^as pro- 
posed, although it was not concluded until the next 
year. 

In 1854 Senator Douglass proposed the organiza- 
tion of the Territories of Kansas and Nebraska, claim- 
ing that the question of slavery should be settled by 
the people of the States themselves. This was vio- 
lently opposed by Northern members, because it was 
directly contrary to the provisions of the Missouri 
Compromise, but it was at last carried. The deci- 
sion being left to the States, both parties used their 
utmost influence to have the matter decided accord- 
ing to their view. The result was that rival govern- 
ments were formed, and a constitution adopted by 
each ; but civil war broke out between the parties, 
and in 1856 the government was obliged to interfere 
and restore order. The excitement thus created 
spread throughout the country. It was not until 
1859 that a constitution forbidding slavery was rati- 
fied ; and in 1861 Kansas was admitted into the 
Union. 

During this administration an affair of diplomacy 
attracted considerable attention. Martin Koszta 
was a Hungarian who fled from Austria to escape 
punishment for rebellion against the government. 
He came to the United States, and took out some 
of the papers necessary to his becoming a citizen. 
Shortly after this he went to Europe, and was seized 
by the Austrian authorities. America demanded that 



86 Buchanan's Administration, [chap. xm. 

he should be released, and the affair was left for the 
Austrian Minister at Washington and the Secretary 
of State to settle. The result was that Koszta was 
sent back to the United States. 

The Democratic candidate this year was James 
Buchanan, who was a strong advocate of the Kansas- 
Nebraska Bill. The Free Soil party nominated 
John C. Fremont, but Buchanan was elected by a 
large majority. 

Buchanan's Administration.— 1857-1861.— 
In the first year of this administration a rebellion 
broke out among the Mormons. They had been 
under the governorship of Brigham Young. But the 
central government, deeming some of their laws in- 
consistent with the laws of the country, sent a judge 
to carry on the business of the courts, and he was 
not permitted to exercise the duties of his office. 
The government then appointed a new governor for 
Utah, and sent an army to enforce obedience. The 
Mormons prepared to resist the troops, but before 
they arrived an agent of the government appeared 
who had authority to settle matters without using 
force. Gradually order was restored, and the troops 
withdrawn. 

In 1858, the Atlantic cable was laid, thus con- 
necting the two hemispheres by telegraph. In the 
same year, Minnesota was admitted into the Union, 
and in the next year Oregon. 

All through the administration the slavery ques- 
tion was agitated. In the beginning of it, Chief 
Justice Taney had decided a case which had come 
before him, by declaring that slaves had no rights, 
except as the property of their owners, and had fur- 
ther declared the Missouri Compromise, and the 
Compromise of 1850, to be null, and contrary to the 
meaning of the constitution. In 1859, the excite- 
ment was increased by an attempt to rouse the slaves 
to rebellion. John Brown, with a party of twenty 
men, seized the government arsenal at Harper's 



CHAP, xiii.] Buchanan's Administration. 87 

Ferry, and held it until they were taken and im- 
prisoned by the Virginia militia. The leader and 
some of his followers were tried, convicted, and 
hanged. 

While this excitement was fresh in the minds of 
the people, a presidential election was pending. 
There were four candidates. The Republican candi- 
date was Abraham Lincoln ; the candidate of the 
Northern Democrats, Stephen A. Douglas ; of the 
Southern Democrats, John C. Breckinridge ; and of 
the American party, John Bell. Several of the 
Southern States had declared that if the country 
was to be controlled by the principles of the Repub- 
lican party, the Union could no longer be held to- 
gether. The election of Lincoln by a large majority 
of the electoral college was, therefore, the signal for 
secession. President Buchanan admitted that, al- 
though he did not believe in the right of a State to 
secede, he had no authority to prevent it. Accord- 
ingly, the States which sought separation carried 
their wishes into effect during the interval between 
Lincoln's election and his inauguration. South 
Carolina set the example ; and on December 20th 
passed a resolution dissolving her connection with 
the other States. In quick succession, Mississippi, 
Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas 
followed ; and in February, 1861, the government 
of the Confederate States of America was organized 
at Montgomery, with Jefferson Davis as president, 
and Alexander H. Stephens, as vice-president. 

The country at large was unprepared for war. 
The seceded States had seized nearly all the forts 
and arsenals lying in their territory ; and only For- 
tress Monroe, in Virginia, Forts Sumter and Moul- 
trie, at Charleston, and Fort Pickens, in Florida, re- 
mained to the national government. 



88 The Civil War, — 1861. [chap. xiv. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

THE CIVIL WAR. 

Lincoln's Administration. — 1861-1865. — 

Shortly after Lincoln's inauguration, the Southern 
States asked for a recognition of their independence, 
which was denied. On April nth. General Beaure- 
gard sent an order to Major Anderson, the com- 
mander of Fort Sumter, to surrender. Upon his 
refusal, fire was opened upon the fort, which lasted 
thirty-four hours. At the end of that time, the fort 
was destroyed, and Anderson was forced to aban- 
don it. This was the signal for war. Three days 
after this event, the president called for seventy-five 
thousand men to put down the rebellion. Virginia 
then seceded, and in the next month was followed 
by Arkansas and North Carolina. 

The first bloodshed of the war occurred in Balti- 
more on April 19th, as some Massachusetts troops 
were passing through that city on their way to 
Washington. They were fired upon by a mob, and 
three men killed. The armory at Harper's Ferry, 
and the Norfolk navy yard were next seized by the 
Confederates. On May 3d, eighty-three thousand 
troops were called for, for three years' service. 
Active preparations were made both in the I-^orth 
and in the South. General Scott was appointed 
commander-in-chief of the Federal forces, and 
ships of war were sent to blockade the Southern 
ports. 

1861.— Events in the East. — During the latter 
part of May, General McClellan moved toward the 
mountains of West Virginia, and on July nth gained 
a victory at Rich Mountain. This was followed by 
victories at Cheat River and at Gauley River, by 
General Rosecrans. In September, General Robert 



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CHAP. XIV.] 1 86 1 — Events in the West. 89 

E. Lee was defeated at Cheat River, and Federal 
authority was established in West Virginia. Mean- 
time there was considerable skirmishing in the Shen- 
andoah Valley ; but the first great battle of the war 
was not fought until July 21st. Then General 
Beauregard was posted near Bull Run. The Union 
army, under General McDowell, advanced toward 
him from Centreville on their way to Richmond, 
then the capital of the Confederacy. A severe 
battle followed in which the Federals had at first a 
prospect of victory ; but General Joseph E. John- 
ston, whom McDowell supposed. at a safe distance in 
the Shenandoah Valley, came up and so altered 
matters that the Union army was completely routed. 
This result filled the South with delight, and the 
North with mortification. Troops poured into 
Washington in such numbers that by the middle 
of October there were one hundred and fifty thou- 
sand men in the Federal army. General Scott re- 
signed his command, and General George B. Mc- 
Clellan was appointed in his place. 

1861.— Events in the West.— In the West, 
Missouri was the scene of civil war. In the pre- 
vious March, the Legislature had failed to pass a 
vote of secession ; but as the secessionists were nume- 
rous, hostilities soon arose between the two parties. 
United States stores were seized by both parties, and 
several engagements took place, from which there 
were no decisive results except that Carthage and 
Lexington were left under Federal control, and Bel- 
mont on the Mississippi under Confederate. Ken- 
tucky had decided to remain neutral, but the Con- 
federates entered that State, and took possession of 
Columbus. Colonel U. S. Grant undertook to force 
them from the city, but failed. 

During this year the Federal government suc- 
ceeded in blockading the Southern coast so as to 
prevent nearly all communication with other "coun- 
tries. 



9C. 1 862 — Events in the West. [chap. xiv. 

The country came very near being involved in a 
war with England at this time, from which it was 
saved by William H. Seward, Secretary of State. 
The Confederate government sent James M. Mason 
and John Slidell as ambassadors to England and 
France. The English vessel in which they were 
was overtaken by the San Jacinto under Captain 
Wilkes, was boarded, and Mason and Slidell seized 
and carried back to the United States. England 
resented the insult to her flag, and demanded repa- 
ration. Although many of the people in their ex- 
citement approved of what had been done,' Secretary 
Seward sent a suitable apology to the English gov- 
ernment, ordered the men to be released from prison, 
and sent them to Europe. 

1862. — Events in the West. — The first action 
of this year took place in the West. In January, 
Colonel Garfield defeated the Confederates in East 
Kentucky. Later in the same month they were 
again defeated by General Thomas, at Mill Spring, 
with heavy loss on both sides. The Federal forces 
then moved against Forts Henry and Donelson. In 
February, Commodore Foote and General Grant left 
Cairo with fifteen thousand men, sailed up the Ten- 
nessee River, and forced the Confederates from 
Fort Henry. They escaped to Fort Donelson, on 
the Cumberland, and Foote followed them, only 
stopping at Cairo for provisions. When he arrived 
at the fort he found Grant awaiting him, and the 
siege began. The gun boats were driven back, but 
Grant forced a surrender on the i6th of Febru- 
ary. General Grant next proceeded up the Ten- 
nessee, where near Pittsburg Landing he was at- 
tacked on March 6th by Generals Beauregard and 
Albert S. Johnston. The battle lasted the entire 
day, and the Federals were driven back ; but 
during the night reinforcements arrived from Gene- 
ral Buell's army, and the next day the Confederates 
were obliged to retreat to Corinth. More than ten 



CHAP. XIV. J 1862 — Events in the West. 91 

thousand fell on each side in this fierce battle, and 
Johnston, one of the ablest of the Confederate gene- 
rals, was killed. In May, General Halleck moved 
the Union troops to Corinth, which was evacuated 
on his approach. 

Meantime, the Confederates, fearing that they 
could not hold Columbus, had removed to Island 
No. 10 in the Mississippi, a few miles below that city. 
Toward the point Commodore Foote and General 
Pope advanced. Pope got possession of New Mad- 
rid on the western shore, and then aided Foote in 
his attack upon the Island. On April 7th the garri- 
son was captured while attempting to escape. On 
June 6th Commodore Davis took Memphis, which 
opened the Mississippi down to that point. 

In the early part of 1862, a fleet under Commo- 
dore Goldsborough, and a land force under General 
Burnside, took Roanoke Island, New-Berne, and 
Beaufort ; and in April Fort Pulaski surrendered 
to General Gillmore. During the same month, 
General Butler and Admiral Farragut entered the 
Mississippi. Thirty miles above its mouth, the 
river was commanded by two powerful forts. 
These Farragut began to bombard ; but at the 
end of five days he had produced little effect, so 
he determined to force his way past them. Break- 
ing the chain which had been placed across the 
river, he sailed up to New Orleans in spite of the 
resistance of the Confederate fleet. The forts, a 
few days afterward, surrendered to Admiral Porter, 
and General Butler was placed in command of New 
Orleans. 

After the loss of Fort Donelson, the Confederates 
withdrew into East Tennessee, but returned to Ken- 
tucky in August, and took Richmond, Lexington, 
and Frankfort. General Bragg also entered the State 
from Chattanooga, and advanced to Louisville, 
which was only saved by the arrival of General 
Buell. In October, the Federal army was so strong, 



92 1 862 — Events in the East. [chap. xiv. 

that General Bragg withdrew from the State, and 
posted himself at Murfreesborough, Tennessee. 

On September 19th, the Confederates, under Gen- 
eral Price, were defeated at luka, Mississippi, after 
a severe battle, by Generals Rosecrans and Grant : 
after which Rosecrans withdrew to Corinth, and 
Grant went into Tennessee. A Confederate attack 
upon Corinth shortly afterwards was defeated. 

General Sherman was now at Memphis, and Gen- 
eral Grant removed to La Grange, in order to unite 
with him in an attack upon Vicksburg ; but the 
plan had to be given up, for Grant was forced to 
retreat, and Sherman, after an unsuccessful attack 
at Chickasaw Bayou, was obliged to take to his gun- 
boats in the Mississippi. 

The last battle in the West this year was fought 
at Murfreesborough. Here General Rosecrans found 
the Confederates, on December 30th, in a strong 
position, and determined to bring a superior force 
to bear upon Bragg's weakest position. But Bragg 
had determined to do the same thing, and in con- 
sequence the right wing of the Federal army was 
driven from the field. By the heroism of part of 
the forces, the Confederates were kept from further 
success, until Rosecrans could rearrange his ranks. 
When night fell Rosecrans had been defeated, but 
he determined not to leave the field without another 
attempt. On January 2d, the battle broke out afresh, 
and lasted all day. In the afternoon, it seemed that 
the Federal forces must give way ; but they rallied, 
and drove the enemy from the field with immense 
loss. 

1862. — Events in the East.— The forces in the 
East had not been inactive. In order to prevent 
the Confederates taking position at Manassas, Gen- 
eral Banks went into the Valley of the Shenandoah. 
At Kernstown, " Stonewall " Jackson fell upon a di- 
vision under General Shields, but was repulsed. 
Then Jackson pursued the main army, and Banks 



CHAP. XIV.] 1862 — Events in the East. 93 

retreated to the Potomac. But now the Confederate 
general found himself in danger from General Fre- 
mont, so he hastened back down the valley. He 
reached Cross Keys before he could be attacked, 
and then the attack was a failure. He then defeated 
General Shields in an engagement, and joined the 
army for the defense of Richmond. 

With the purpose of taking Richmond, General 
McClellan left Washington on March loth, with 
two hundred thousand men, and advanced as far as 
Manassas Junction. Here he changed his plans, 
and embarked his troops for Fortress Monroe, in 
order to advance from that point. It was April 4th 
before the troops left Fortress Monroe. Yorktown 
w^as then held by ten thousand Confederates, under 
General Magruder, and the Federal army lay for a 
month outside the city awaiting its surrender. At 
the end of that time the city was taken, and the 
forces advanced, overtaking and defeating the en- 
emy at Williamsburg and West Point. The army 
now approached Richmond ; but the Confederates 
met them at Fair Oaks, and a severe battle was 
fought. Although the Confederates were driven 
back, the victory did not avail much. General J. E. 
Johnston was severely wounded in this battle, and the 
command devolved upon General Robert E. Lee, who 
continued commander-in-chief to the end of the war. 
On June 25th, Lee attacked the Federals at Oak 
Grove, but without result. Next day, at Mechanics- 
ville, the Federals gained the victory ; but on the 
next, at Gaines' Mill, Lee was successful. On the 
29th battles were fought at Savage's Station and 
White Oak Swamp ; on the 30th at Frazier's 
Farm, and on the ist of July the Federals had 
reached Malvern Hill. Here Lee determined to 
make an attack, and a fierce struggle ensued ; but 
he was forced to fall back on Richmond. McClel- 
lan, instead of going on to Richmond, which he 
thought he could not do without reinforcements, 



94 1 862 — Evcjtts in the East. [chap. xiv. 

now moved to Harrison's Landing, and nothing was 
gained by all this hard fighting and fearful loss of 
life. 

General Lee, seeing that the Federals were not 
going to follow up their advantage, moved north- 
ward for the purpose of invading Maryland. Gen- 
eral Pope collected the Union forces that were scat- 
tered over the surrounding country, and he also 
moved northward. On August 28th and 29th, there 
was a severe battle at Manassas Junction, in which 
thousands fell, and among them Generals Kearney 
and Stevens. Pope escaped with his shattered army 
to Washington, where he was relieved of his com- 
mand by General Halleck, who had been appointed 
commander-in-chief in place of McClellan. 

Lee pressed on to Maryland, and, on the 6th of 
September, took Frederick, and, on the loth, Hagers- 
town. McClellan followed, with a hastily organ- 
ized army, and overtook the enemy at South Moun- 
tain, where a division under Hooker fought a suc- 
cessful battle. On the 14th Lee fell back to An- 
tietam Creek. McClellan was now in his rear ; and, 
on the 15th, there was some slight fighting. Next 
day both armies prepared for battle. On the 17th 
and 1 8th the contest raged — now with success on 
one side, now on the other ; but finally the Union 
troops were victorious, and compelled General Lee 
to withdraw into Virginia. Again nothing resulted 
from a battle in which more than twenty thousand 
men fell. This was accounted for by the fact, that 
the Federal army was not supplied with the necessary 
stores. McClellan followed Lee's retreat as far as 
Rectortown. 

Another campaign against Richmond was now 
planned, and the time up to November 6th was 
spent in preparation, when the command was trans- 
ferred from McClellan to Burn side. Again there 
were delays; and it was not until December nth 
that the troops were ready to cross the Rappahan- 



CHAP. XIV.] 1863 — Events in the West. 95 

nock. They had decided to do this at Fredericks- 
burg, which Lee had strongly defended. On the 
12th the army crossed, and on the 13th the battle 
began. First, the Federals broke through the Con- 
federate lines, but only to be driven back with 
great loss. Charge after charge was made without 
success, while men were mowed down by the thou- 
sand. On the 15 th the shattered army recrossed the 
river. 

1863. — On the I St day of January President Lin- 
coln issued his Proclamation of Emancipation, by 
which slavery was prohibited throughout the United 
States. 

Events in the West. — The first military oper- 
ations were on the INIississippi. The attempt at 
Chickasaw Bayou having failed. General McClernand, 
who had superseded General Sherman, moved to 
Arkansas Post, which surrendered with a num- 
ber of prisoners, some arms and ammunition. He 
then returned to Vicksburg. General Grant, after 
trying in every way to gain access to the city from 
above, determined to run the fleet past the city's 
batteries. This was accomplished in safety. Land- 
ing on April 3d, a little below the city, Grant crossed 
first to Jackson, defeating the Confederates in sev- 
eral engagements on the way. At Jackson, on May 
14th, he met a part of Johnston's army coming to 
the reUef of Vicksburg. This he defeated, and 
captured the city. He then turned back to Vicks- 
burg. General Pemberton came out to meet him, 
but was defeated, and withdrew into the city. Grant 
first tried to storm it, but this was attended by such 
loss of life that he began a regular siege. Although 
in a starving condition, the garrison held out for 
more than a month. On July 4th, the Confederate 
army of nearly thirty thousand men surrendered, 
and great quantities of arms and ammunition fell 
into the hands of the Federal general. Several 
smaller town§ on the river now surrendered, and 



96 1863 — Events in the hast, [chap. xiv. 

thus the Mississippi through its entire length was 
completely under Federal control. This great vic- 
tory was very disastrous to the Confederate cause. 

In June, General Rosecrans took position at 
Chattanooga, and, in September, General Bragg sta- 
tioned himself at Chicamauga Creek, not far off. 
Here a fierce battle was fought, which lasted two 
days. At the end of this time, Rosecrans' defeated 
army withdrew to Chattanooga — the army being 
saved from destruction by the bravery and skill of 
General Thomas. While Bragg was besieging the 
city, Generals Hooker and Sherman arrived with re- 
inforcements ; and, in October, General Grant came 
to take command. On the 24th of November an 
assault was made by Hooker upon the Confeder- 
ates on Lookout Mountain. The troops charged 
up the sides of the steep elevation, protected by a 
dense fog, and shortly after noon reached the sum- 
mit, driving the Confederates down into the valley ; 
and, on the next day, the same thing was done at 
Missionary Ridge. The Confederates were com- 
pletely route.d, and retired to Dalton, Georgia. 
Sherman tnen went to the relief of Burnside, whom 
Longstreet was besieging at Knoxville. 

In July of this year General Morgan made a des- 
perate raid into Ohio and Indiana. Starting from 
Sparta, Tennessee, he crossed Kentucky, through 
Indiana into Ohio, destroyed property, and took 
many prisoners ; yet met with no resistance strong 
enough to overcome him. At last he was captured 
and imprisoned, but escaped, after a few months, to 
Richmond. 

1863.— Events in the East.— After the defeat 
of Burnside at Fredericksburg, General Hooker was 
placed in command. In April, he crossed the Rap- 
pahannock, and on May 2d, was attacked at Chan- 
cellorsville by Lee and Jackson. Night fell before 
the battle was decided ; but the Confederates had 
lost a man whose place could not be filled — the 



CHAP. XIV. j 1864. 97 

brave Stonewall Jackson, said to have been struck by 
a bullet from one of his own men. The next day the 
battle continued with fearful loss on both sides. On 
the fifth Hooker withdrew his army across the river. 
Twenty-nine thousand men fell in this battle I 
General Lee now determined to invade Maryland 
and Pennsylvania. He crossed the Potomac, took 
Hagerstown and Chambersburg, and then drew up 
his forces near Gettysburg, Hither General Meade, 
Hooker's successor, hurried his forces. On July 
1st, the battle began, and raged that day and the 
next without decisive results. On the afternoon of 
the third it was renewed, and with such force that 
thousands fell. But the Federal army forced the 
enemy from the field, and Lee was obliged to retreat 
into Virginia. This was the greatest bat<^le of the 
war, in the numbers engaged, in the purpose for 
which it was undertaken, and -in the terrible slaugh- 
ter on both sides ; and its result was a blow to the 
Confederate cause from which it never recovered. 
The Confederate loss was thirty thousand ; the Fed- 
eral, twenty-three thousand. 

During this year there had not been a sufficient 
number of volunteers to recruit the armies after 
their dreadful losses, and President Lincoln ordered 
a draft of men between the ages of twenty and forty- 
five. This draft met with much opposition, because 
of the law that enabled some men to purchase ex- 
emption from military duty. In New York a 
riot broke out, during which much property was 
destroyed. Troops were sent to the assistance of 
the authorities, and the riot was quelled. There 
was a strong feeling in many parts of the North 
against the war ; but, nevertheless, the ranks were 
filled. In June, of this year, West Virginia was or- 
ganized as a separate State, and admitted into the 
Union. 

1864. — Again, we must go to the West for the 
first active work of the year. In the spring. Gen- 



98 Lincoln s Administration, — 1864, [chap, xiv, 

eral Banks proposed the capture of Shreveport, 
Louisiana, a place of some importance to the Con- 
federates. Careful preparations were made for a 
land and naval attack. The army was sent forward 
in three divisions ; one of which was almost destroyed 
near Mansfield. The fleet was of no use, because of 
the shallowness of the river ; and the whole expedi- 
tion ended in failure. 

General Grant, recently appointed commander-in- 
chief of the Federal forces, now planned two great 
campaigns. One, under Sherman, to take Atlanta, 
the capital of Georgia ; and one, under his own lead- 
ership, to capture Richmond. 

On May 7th, General Sherman set out from Chat- 
tanooga with nearly one hundred thousand men ; and, 
about the same time, Johnston, with sixty thousand, 
came out from Atlanta to meet him, and drive him 
back. They fought a battle at Dalton, and John- 
ston was forced to retreat. At Resaca, he made a 
stand, waited for Sherman, fought him again ; was 
again defeated, and retreated to Dallas. Here, the 
same resul*" followed, and again at Kenesaw Moun- 
tains. At this latter place, Sherman was at first re- 
pulsed, but afterward forced Johnston back. By 
July loth, Johnston was driven into Atlanta, and 
was superseded by General Hood. Sherman lay 
outside the city, and at once began its siege. On 
September 2a, the Federal forces took possession 
of Atlanta. Hood endeavored to draw Sherman out 
of Georgia, by proceeding at once into Tennessee ; 
but Sherman sent General Thomas to oppose him 
there, and, after burning Atlanta, he began his march 
to the sea. In Tennessee, Hood approached Nash- 
ville, where all of Thomas's force lay; but, before he 
had finished his preparations for a siege, Thomas 
fell upon his army, and utterly routed it. Sherman 
marched straight for Savannah, seizing everything 
on his way to feed his army, and arrived there in 
December. Some resistance was offered, and Sher- 



CHAP. XIV ] Lincoln s Administration. — 1864. 99 

man made preparations for a siege ; but during the 
night of December 21st the city was evacuated, and 
the Federal army took possession. 

On water the combatants were not idle. In Au- 
gust, Admiral Farragut took Fort Gaines and Fort 
Morgan, at the entrance of Mobile harbor, after a 
fierce contest. In October, Albemarle Sound came 
under Federal control ; and in December, Fort 
Fisher, at the entrance of Cape Fear River, was taken. 
Much damage was done to commerce during the 
war by privateers. After the blockade of the 
Southern coast, many of these were fitted out in 
England, and many vessels were destroyed by them. 
In 1864 a battle took place off the coast of France 
between the Alabama, built at Liverpool, and com- 
manded by the Confederate Captain Semmes, and 
the Kearsarge, commanded by Captain Winslow. 
After a severe fight, the Alabaina was sunk. 

After the battle of Gettysburg, Lee retired into the 
Valley of the Shenandoah. In order to prevent his 
advance to Richmond, General Meade tried to hold 
the passes of the mountains ; but Lee eluded him, 
and reached Culpepper. A little later the armies so 
moved about that Meade occupied Culpepper, and 
Lee was on the Rappahannock. 

On May 3d, 1864, the march on Richmond was 
begun. On the fourth Meade entered the Wilder- 
ness near Chancellorsville. Here the? Confederates 
attacked him, and for three days the battle raged, 
but it was without decisive results. At Spottsyl- 
vania Court House another battle took place ; and 
on June ist another only twelve miles from Rich- 
mond, in which the Union forces were defeated. On 
June 3d the Confederate lines on the Chickahominy 
were carried. Grant now moved South, and on 
the 15 th of June advanced against Petersburg, in 
connection with forces from Fortress Monroe under 
General Butler. Failing in an assault, Grant began 
a regular siege, which lasted all fall and winter. 



lOO Lincobis Administration. — 1865. [chap. xiv. 

But, meantime, hoping to draw Grant's attention 
from Petersburg, Lee sent General Early to threaten 
an attack on Washington. A series of raids followed ; 
and, for the purpose of putting an end to them, 
Grant sent General P. H. Sheridan with forty thou- 
sand men. On September 19th he defeated Early 
at Winchester. He then destroyed much property 
in the Shenandoah Valley, posted his army at Cedar 
Creek, and left it. In his absence, his forces were 
surprised and routed by Early ; but Sheridan hast- 
ened to the front, rallied his troops, and defeated 
the Confederates. On February 25 th, 1865, he 
gained another success over Early, and then went 
to Petersburg. On April 2 2d the works at Peters- 
burg were carried, and that night Lee and the offi- 
cers of the Confederate government left Richmond, 
which the Federal troops entered next day. The 
Confederate army fled to Farmville, on the Appo- 
mattox, pursued by Grant. Here Grant proposed 
that Lee should surrender and save further blood- 
shed. On the 9th of April the two leaders met, and 
agreed upon the terms of surrender. 

In the meantime Sherman was marching north- 
ward. On February ist he left Savannah for Co- 
lumbia. In vain the Confederates attempted to 
prevent him. Columbia surrendered at his ap- 
proach, and Charleston was abandoned at the 
same time. Sherman pressed northward to Char- 
lotte, North Carolina, and took the town on March 
nth. On the 19th he was attacked by Johnston, 
and his army put for a time in great peril. He went 
on, however, and on April 13th entered Raleigh. 
Here Johnston, being informed of Lee's surrender, 
followed his example, and surrendered his army to 
Sherman. 

The only conditions demanded by the victors 
were that the Confederates should lay down their 
arms, retire to their homes, and obey the laws of 
the Federal government. Jefferson Davis was im- 



CHAP. XV.] Johnson s Administration. loi 

prisoned to be tried for treason, but was afterward 
released without trial. 

In the fall of 1864, Lincoln was re-elected ; and 
his second inaugural took place on the 4th of the 
March following. On the night of April 14th, 
while at Ford's Theater, he was basely assassinated 
by an actor named John Wilkes Booth. At the 
same hour an attempt was made upon the life of 
Secretary Seward. The assassins were caught and 
executed. 



CHAPTER XV. 

THE ADMINISTRATIONS CONCLUDED. 

Johnson's Administration. — 1865- 1869. — 

Upon the death of Lincoln, the vice-president, 
Andrew Johnson, succeeded to the presidency. 

On February 1st, 1865, an amendment to the 
Constitution was passed by Congress, abolishing 
slavery throughout the Union. On the 29th of May, 
Johnson issued a proclamation pardoning those (with 
few exceptions) who had been engaged in the re- 
bellion, on condition that they would swear alle- 
giance to the United States. 

While the war was in progress, France had given 
the crown of Mexico to Maximilian of Austria, and 
sent troops to Mexico to help him maintain his au- 
thority. The Mexicans under Juarez revolted ; and 
the government of the United States resented the 
violation of the Monroe Doctrine. The French 
army was compelled to retire, and Maximilian was 
executed in 1867. 

During this administration and the preceding the 
following territories were formed : Dakota, in 1861 ; 
Arizona, in 1863 ; Idaho, in 1863 5 Montana, in 1864 ; 
and Wyoming, in 1868. Nevada was admitted as a 
State in 1864, and Nebraska in 1867. During this 



I02 Grant's Administration, [chap. xv. 

latter year the Territory of Alaska was purchased 
from Russia for seven million two hundred thousand 
dollars. 

Serious difficulty arose about ■ the reorganization 
of the seceded States. The president took the 
ground that they had no right to secede ; and, 
therefore, as they had never been out of the Union, 
they could not be readmitted to it. Congress took 
the ground that they had by their secession forfeited 
their claim to be States of the Union, and must be 
specially restored. Congress refused to carry out 
the plans of the president ; and the president vetoed 
the bills passed by Congress. At last so wide was 
the breach between the president and Congress, that 
they seized upon his dismissal of Stanton, the sec- 
retary of war, from office in February, 1868, as the 
basis of a trial for impeachment. The president 
was, however, acquitted. In June and July, 1868, 
all the States but Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas 
were readmitted. 

At the presidential election, in the fall of 1868, 
General U. S. Grant was elected by a large major- 
ity ; and Schuyler Colfax was chosen vice-president. 

Grant's Administration.— 1869 - 1877.— In 
1868, Congress had adopted an amendment to the 
Constitution giving the rights of citizenship to all 
people of the United States, native born or natural- 
ized ; and, just before Grant's inauguration, another 
amendment granted the right of suffrage to all 
people without regard to race or color. Early in 
1870, Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas were read- 
mitted ; and once again every State was represented 
in Congress. 

In 187 1 the claims against the English govern- 
ment for damage done to American commerce by 
privateers were heard before an impartial court of 
arbitration chosen by friendly nations, and England 
was compelled to pay the United States fifteen and a 
half million dollars. In 1872 a dispute concerning 



CHAP. XV.] Grant's Administration. 103 

the northwestern boundary hne was decided in favor 
of the United States. 

At the election of 1872, Grant was re-elected by 
a large majority, with Henry Wilson as vice-presi- 
dent. 

In the fall of 1872 it became necessary to send 
troops against the Modoc Indians in Oregon, who 
had refused to comply with the demands of the gov- 
ernment for their lands. In the early part of 1873 
they were surrounded, and peace was proposed ; but 
in the midst of the negotiations the savages mur- 
dered General Canby. Negotiations were aban- 
doned, and the Indians besieged. In June they sur- 
rendered. 

In 1873 rival governors were elected in Louisi- 
ana ; and the dispute between the factions was car- 
ried so far that the president was called upon to 
settle it. But the faction which was ordered to 
disband revolted in the next year, and troops were 
sent to put an end to the trouble. 

In 1873 a disastrous panic occurred, caused by 
the failure of a large banking house in Philadelphia. 
Other failures followed, and it was a long time 
before business recovered from the shock. 

In 1876, Colorado was admitted into the Union. 
During this year the centenary of American Inde- 
pendence was celebrated. A great International 
Exhibition was held in the city of Philadelphia from 
April to November. The industries of the world 
were represented there, and people flocked thither 
from all parts of the world. 

By a treaty made in 1867, the Sioux Indians 
agreed to leave their former reservation, and to 
settle in the southwestern part of Dakota. But 
when January, 1876, the time appointed, arrived, 
the Indians refused to go. The government sent a 
large force against them, one division of which, 
under General Custer, made an attack on the 25th 
of June ; but it was surprised, and not a man 



104 Hayes s Election. [chap. xv. 

survived. During the summer and fall several en- 
gagements took place in which the Indians were 
defeated. In the January of the next year a battle 
was fought in which they were badly beaten. Soon 
after, Sitting Bull, the Sioux leader, escaped into 
Canada, and refused to return to the Dakota reser- 
vation even under promise of pardon. 

The greatest excitement prevailed throughout the 
country during the winter of 1876-7, over the 
results of the presidential election. Rutherford 
B. Hayes was the Republican, and Samuel J. 
Tilden the Democratic candidate ; and both par- 
ties claimed the victory. When the question came 
up in Congress, in December, they decided to leave 
the decision to a Joint High Commission chosen 
from the Senate, House of Representatives, and 
Supreme Court. This Commission declared Ruth- 
erford B. Hayes president ; but it was only two 
days before the 4th of March that the decision was 
reached. 

Hayes's Administration, 1877-81.— Hayes's 
first action was to free South Carolina and Louisi- 
ana from the military rule w^hich had been estab- 
lished there during the last administration. He 
chose a non-partisan cabinet, and avowed him- 
self a champion of civil service reform, by promis- 
ing to make no removals from office except for 
cause. 

In the summer of 1877 a riot broke out among 
the employes of some of the great railroads upon 
a general reduction of wages. A large amount of 
property was destroyed by the rioters in Pittsburgh, 
Baltimore, Chicago, and other railroad centres. 
Troops were called upon to quell the disturb- 
ance. 

During the same year General Howard carried on 
a war with the Nez Perce Indians, which ended in 
their destruction. 



QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. 

CHAPTER I. 

I. — Where did the Northmen live, and what was 
their character ? 

2. — Describe the discoveries of Iceland and Green- 
land. 

3. — Who discovered the American continent in 
the ninth century, and what name did he give it ? 

4. — What places on the coast were explored by 
the Northmen ? 

5. — What was the effect of these discoveries ? 



CHAPTER II. 

I. — How many years passed away from the dis- 
coveries of the Northmen to the great discovery of 
Columbus ? 

2. — What led Columbus to think that he could 
reach the East Indies by sailing westward ? 

3. — Give a brief account of Columbus's life prior 
to his discovery of America. 

4. — To what monarchs did he apply for assist- 
ance ? 

5. — What sovereigns finally furnished him an outfit '^ 

6. — Name the three vessels with which he sailed 
on his perilous voyage. 

7.' — When and where did he discover the first 
land ? 

8. — How many voyages did Columbus make to 
the New World ? 

9. — What rank was conferred upon him by the 
Spanish sovereigns '^ 

10. — What treatment did he receive from his 
country ? 

107 



io8 Questions for Examination, 

CHAPTER III. 

I. — After whom was the New World called Amer- 
ica? 

2. — Describe the voyages of John Cabot and his 
son Sebastian, 

3. — Why were these voyages important to the 
English ? 

4. — Describe the romantic voyage of Ponce de 
Leon. 

5. — Who discovered the Pacific Ocean ? In what 
year ? 

6. — Who was the first navigator whose ships sailed 
around the world ? 

7. — What important group of islands, still in the 
possession of Spain, was discovered by this navigator ? 

8. — In what year and under what flag did Veraz- 
zani sail ? 

9. — Give a brief account of the voyages of Cartier. 

10. — Why were the voyages of Verazzani and 
Cartier important to France ? 

II. — Describe the voyage and wanderings of De 
Soto. 

12. — Wliat important discovery did he make ? 



I 



CHAPTER IV.— Part I. 

I. — Describe the efforts of the English to dis- 
cover the North-west passage to India. 

2. — What unsuccessful attempts were made to 
plant an English colony in North America ? 

3. — What navigators sailed under the patronage 
of Sir Walter Raleigh ? 

4. — Who gave Virginia its name ? 

5. — Where was the first permanent English settle- 
ment established ? In what year ? 

6. — Who was the first governor, and who was the. 
leading man ? 



Questions for Exmnination. 109 

7. — What was the character of the first settlers 
in Virginia ? 

8. — With what difficulties did they have to con- 
tend ? 

9. — In what year and by whom was negro slavery 
introduced ? 

10. — What was the cause of Bacon's rebellion \ 
Give a brief account of it. 

II. — In what years and by whom were North and 
South Carolina settled ? 



CHAPTER IV.— Part II. 

I. — In what year and by what people was Massa- 
chusetts founded ? 

2. — How did they obtain their peculiar name ? 

3. — Describe the troubles of the first settlers. 

4. — Who was the first governor ? 

5. — When and by whom was Rhode Island set- 
tled ? 

6. — In what year was Connecticut settled ? By 
whom ? 

7.— When and by whom was New Hampshire set- 
tled ? 



CHAPTER v.— Part I. 

I. — When and by whom was the Hudson River 
discovered ? 

2. — When was New York first settled ? By what 
name was it known ? 

3. — What name was given to the country on both 
sides of the Hudson ? 

4. — In what year did New York and New Jersey 
fall into the hands of the English ? 

5. — In what year was New Jersey first settled? 

6. — In what year and by whom was Delaware set- 
tled ? 



no Questions for Examination. 

CHAPTER v.— Part II. 

I. — By whom was Maryland settled ? In what 
year ? 

2. — Who was the first governor ? 

3. — Where in the American Colonies was religious 
liberty first really established ? 

4. — When and by whom was Pennsylvania settled ? 

5. — In what year was Philadelphia founded ? 

6. — In what year, and by whom, was Georgia set- 
tled ? 



CHAPTER VI. 

I. — What was the first war of the English against 
the Indians ? 

2. — Give the cause and date. 

3. — What was the cause and what the date of 
Khig Philifs IVar? 

4. — Give a short account of the war. 

5. — What was the cause of A7//^ William's War 7 

6. — With whom did the Indians ally themselves ? 

7. — How long did this war last, and what treaty 
ended it ? 

8. — What was the cause of Queen Anne's War 7 
When did it end, and what treaty terminated it ? 

9. — State the principal events of this war. 

10. — When did King George's War begin, how 
long did it last, and what treaty ended it ? 

II. — State the cause of this war, and its principal 
events. 



CHAPTER VII. 

I. — In what respect did the French and Indian 
War differ in its origin from the preceding war ? 

2. — What distinguished man first made his ap- 
pearance in public life during this war ? 



Questions for Examination. 1 1 1 

3. — Who was governor of Virginia in 1753 ? 

4. — What was Washington's first pubHc service ? 

5. — State the result of Washington's expedition 
against the French in 1754? 

6. — What British general was sent out in 1754 to 
command all the forces against the French ? 

7. — Describe Braddock's defeat, and the conduct 
of Washington at the battle of Fort du Quesne. 

8. — What generals were sent against Niagara and 
Crown Point, and with what success ? 

9. — State the principal events of 1756. 

10. — Describe the massacre of Fort William 
Henry. 

II. — What, in general, was the result of the war 
up to the close of 1757 ? 

12, — Who was appointed commander-in-chief of 
the English forces in 1758? 

13. — Who was the French commander? 

14. — Who captured Louisburg from the French? 

15. — ^Whatwas the result of Abercrombie's attack 
on Fort Ticonderoga ? 

16. — When and by whom was Fort du Quesne 
taken ? 

17. — By what name is Fort du Quesne now known ? 
After whom named ? 

18. — Describe the events of 1759. 

19. — What great battle ended the war, and gave 
the British possession of Canada ? 

20. — What treaty terminated the war ? In what 
year ? What were the terms ? 



CHAPTER VHI. 

I. — What were the causes of the Revolutionary 
War? 

2. — What celebrated act was passed by the British 
parliament in 1765 ? 



1 1 2 Questions for Examination. 

3. — When and where did the first Colonial Con- 
gress meet ? 

4. — Name the principal events from 1765 to 1775. 

5. — What was the Boston Tea Party ? 

6. — When and where did the second Colonial 
Congress meet ? 

7. — What was the first battle of the Revolution ? 

8. — What forts were captured by Allen and Ar- 
nold ? 

9. — Describe the battle of Bunker Hill. 

10. — Who was appointed commander-in-chief of 
the American armies ? 

II. — Describe the expedition against Canada at 
the close of 1775. 

12. — What general was killed at the battle of Que- 
bec ? 

13.— What was the most important event of 1776 ? 

14. — Who wrote the Declaration of Independ- 
ence ? 

15. — Describe the British attack on Fort Moultrie. 

16. — Give the date, and describe the battle of 
Long Island. 

17. — Give a brief account of the retreat of Wash- 
ington from Long Island. 

18. — What two important victories occurred at 
the end of this, and the beginning of the next year ? 

19. — What two campaigns were proposed by the 
British for this year ? 

20. — State the object of Burgoyne's campaign. 

21. — In what two great battles was he defeated ? 

22. — Describe the route of Burgoyne's army from 
Canada to Stillwater. 

23. — What American citizen procured aid for his 
country from the French ? 

24. — What two great battles were fought near 
Philadelphia ? Give the date and result of each. 

25. — Where were Washington's winter quarters 
after the battle of Germantown ? 



Questions for Examination, 1 1 3 



CHAPTER IX. 

I. — With what European country did America 
form an alUance in 1778 ? 

2. — What celebrated Europeans were serving in 
the American army ? 

3. — Describe the battle of Monmouth. 

4. — Why did the British evacuate Philadelphia? 

5. — Describe the movements of General Sullivan 
and Count d'Estaing at Rhode Island. 

6. — What two massacres took place in this year ? 

7. — What important event took place in the South 
at the close of 1778 ? 

8. — What towns were plundered or destroyed in 
March, 1779 ? By whom ? 

9. — Describe the capture of Stony Point. 

10. — What small battles, and what siege, occurred 
in the South in this year ? 

II. — Describe Paul Jones' great naval victory. 

12. — What was the condition of the American 
army and treasury at the close of this, the fifth year 
of the war ? 

13. — When did the greater part of the action of 
1780 take place ? 

14. — What important city of the South fell into 
the hands of the British in May ? Who was the 
American commander? 

15. — What is said of the treatment of the Southern 
patriots by the British ? 

16. — Name some of the partisan officers who 
maintained the independence of their States, and 
who were a continual source of annoyance to the 
British. 

17. — Who succeeded General Lincoln in com- 
mand of the American army in the South ? 

18. — What disastrous battle was fought by General 
Gates ? 

19. — What foreign officer was killed in this battle ? 



114 Questions for Examination. 

20. — What was the result of the battle of King's 
Mountain ? 

21. — What celebrated American general became 
a traitor to his country ? 

22. — Give the particulars of his treason. 

23. — Describe the mutiny of the American sol- 
diers in 1781. 

24. — What American citizen came to the relief of 
Congress, financially ? 

25. — To whom was the command of the Southern 
army given after Gates' defeat ? 

26. — Describe the battle of Cowpens, and give 
the date. 

27.— Name the battles fought this year by General 
Greene. 

28. — What, on the whole, was the result of these 
battles ? 

29. — What was the last battle of the war ? 

30. — Describe the surrender of Cornwallis. 

31. — Who were the commanders of the French 
army and navy that assisted Washington in his oper- 
ations against Cornwallis ? 

32. — In what year was the treaty signed by which 
the United States was recognized as an independ- 
ent nation ? 

?>Z- — What was the date of the evacuation of New 
York ? 

CHAPTER X. 

I. — When did the colonies become States ? 

2. — Under what form of government did Congress 
wage war against the king of England ? 

3. — What led to the adoption of the Federal Con- 
stitution ? 

4. — The votes of hpw many States were required 
before the Constitution could become the supreme 
law of the republic ? 

5. — Which two States were the last to adopt the 
Constitution ? 



Questions for Examination. 1 1 5 

6. — Who were the first president and vice-presi- 
dent? 

7. — What celebrated grant of territory was made 
to the United States in 1787? Under what conditions? 

8. — When and where was Washington inaugurated 
president ? 

9. — Name his secretaries, since called cabinet offi- 
cers. 

10.— What city was selected as the seat of gov- 
ernment ? 

II. — What remarkable man restored the finances 
of the country ? 

12. — In what year was the Bank of the United 
States established ? 

13. — What Indian troubles occurred during Wash- 
ington's administration ? 

14. — What States were admitted into the Union 
during this administration ? 

15. — Describe the difficulties with France. 

16. — Into what two great parties was the country 
divided toward the close of Washington's first ad- 
ministration ? 

17. — What was the Whisky RebeUion ? 

18. — Who succeeded Washington as president? 

19. — What put an end to the trouble with France ? 

20. — In what year did Washington die ? 

21. — What laws of Adams' administration were 
extremely unpopular ? 

22. — Who was chosen president to succeed Adams ? 

23. — What were the first acts of his administra- 
tion ? 

24. — What State was admitted in 1802 ? 

25. — What great purchase was made, and for what 
sum of money ? 

26. — Give the boundaries of this territory. 

27. — Under whom and for what purpose was a 
naval force sent to the Mediterranean in 1803 ? 

28. — Give a brief outline of the career of Aaron 
Burr. 



ii6 Questions for Examination, 

29. — For how many terms was Jefferson president ? 

30. — What condition of affairs in Europe at this 
time interfered with American commerce ? 

31. — What right did Great Britain claim in regard 
to American vessels ? 

32. — To what trouble did this assumed claim lead ? 

ZZ- — What two celebrated acts almost destroyed 
American commerce ? 

34. — Who applied steam successfully to purposes 
of navigation ? In what year ? 



CHAPTER XL 

I. — Who succeeded Jefferson in the presidency ? 
For how many terms did he hold office ? 

2. — State the causes that led to the war of i8i2-'i5. 

3. — What portion of the United States was op- 
posed to this war ? 

4. — What State was admitted in 181 2 ? 

5. — What military force was ordered to be raised? 

6. — Who was appointed commander-in-chief ? 

^ — Give a brief account of Hull's expedition 
against Canada. 

8. — What was the general result by land during 
the first year of the war ? 

9. — By what were the defeats on land compen- 
sated ? 

10. — Give a brief account of the naval actions 
during 181 2 and 1813. 

II.— What was the result of the expedition under 
General Winchester ? 

12. — Give an account of the several attempts of 
General Proctor to capture American forts. 

13. — Give an account of Perry's victory on Lake 
Erie. 

14. — When and where was Tecumseh killed? 
Who was he ? 



Questions for Examination. 1 1 7 

15. — What is said of the success of the Americans 
by sea in the latter part of 1813 ? 

16. — What American general destroyed the power 
of the Creek Indians ? At what battle ? 

17. — Give a brief account of the invasion of Can- 
ada by Generals Scott and Ripley. 

18. — What was the most severe of all the battles 
fought on the Canadian border ? 

19. — Who gained a great naval victory at Platts- 
burg? 

20. — Describe the British attack on Baltimore 
and Washington. 

21. — What was the last great battle of the war ? 

22. — By what treaty was the war terminated ? 

23. — What other war was undertaken at the close 
of the war with England ? 

24. — What was the cause, and what the result of 
this war ? 

25. — What State was admitted in 1816.? 



CHAPTER XII. 

I. — Who succeeded Madison as president ? 

2. — What States were admitted during this ad- 
ministration ? Give the dates. 

3. — What agitation arose in consequence of the 
admission of Missouri into the Union ? 

4. — What was the Missouri Compromise ? 

5. — Explain what is meant by the Monroe Doc- 
trine. 

6. — Who was elected president in 1824 ? 

7. — What treaties were made with the Indians 
during this administration ? 

8. — What two distinguished men died in 1826 ? 

9. — Who succeeded John Quincy Adams as presi- 
dent ? 

10. — What troubles arose between South Carolina 
and the Federal government ? 

II. — State the causes of these troubles. 



1 1 8 Questions for Examination. 

12. — How did Jackson meet the difficulty ? 

13. — Give an account of the troubles which arose 
in regard to the United States Bank ? 

14. — Who were the party leaders in opposition to 
the president ? 

15. — What Indian wars took place in this admin- 
istration ? 

16. — What States were admitted in 1836 and 1837 ? 

17. — Who was president next after Jackson ? 

18. — What caused great distress at the commence- 
ment of his administration ? 

19. — What was the cause of the trouble ? 

20.— In what year did the banks resume specie 
payments ? 

21. — Who was chosen president in the fall of 
1840? 

22. — How long did he enjoy tiis office ? 

23. — Who succeeded him ? 

24. — What troubles had Tyler with his party and 
cabinet ? 

25. — Which member of his cabinet did not resign ? 

26. — What event stirred and divided the people 
during this administration ? 



CHAPTER XIIL 

I. — Who succeeded to the presidency in 1844? 

2. — Upon what question were the two great par- 
ties opposed ? 

3. — In what year was the Morse telegraph estab- 
lished ? 

4. — Give a brief account of the cause and begin- 
ning of the Mexican War. 

5. — What general was sent to the Rio Grande to 
prevent the Mexicans from trespassing on Texan 
territory ? 

6. — What two battles were fought by General 
Taylor in the spring of 1846, and with what suc- 
cess ? 



Questions for Examination. 119 

7. — What three expeditions were fitted out for 
the invasion of Mexico ? 

8. — What city surrendered on the twenty-fourth 
of September, 1846 ? 

9. — Wlio was president of the republic of Mexico ? 

10. — Give a brief account of the events in New 
Mexico and Cahfornia. 

II. — Describe briefly the battle of Buena Vista, 
giving date, the names of the commanders, and the 
numbers engaged. 

12. — Describe Scott's march from Vera Cruz to 
the City of Mexico, naming his victories in the 
order of their occurrence. 

13. — When was peace concluded ? State the re- 
sult of the war. 

14. — What territory was ceded to the United 
States, and what was given in return for it ? 

15. — What discovery was made in California in 
1848? 

16. — What State was admitted into the Union 
during this administration ? 

17. — Who succeeded Polk as president ? 

18. — What event led to bitter disputes in the 
beginning of this administration ? 

19.— Why did the admission of California revive 
the slavery agitation ? 

20. — What celebrated bill was passed which tided 
over the difficulty ? Give the date. 

21. — How long was Taylor president ? By whom 
was he succeeded ? 

22. — What three great statesmen died during Fill- 
more's administration ? 

23. — What three parties presented candidates fo? 
the presidency in 1852 ? Who was elected ? 

24. — What treaty was made in 1854 ? 

25. — What difficulties arose in relation to the 
organization of Kansas and Nebraska into territo- 
rial governments ? 

26. — How was the trouble finally ended ? 



I20 Questions for Examination. 

27. — Who succeeded Pierce as president ? 

28. — Describe the Mormon troubles at the begin- 
ning of this administration. 

29. — In what years were Minnesota and Oregon 
admitted ? 

30. — In what year was the Atlantic Cable laid ? 

31. — Describe John Brown's invasion of Virginia. 

2^2. — What four candidates were nominated for 
the presidency in i860 ? Who was elected ? 

T^2i. — What effect had the election of Abraham 
Lincoln on the people of the South ? 

34, — What opinions did Buchanan hold which 
seemed to paralyze the Federal government ? 

35. — What State set the example of secession ? 

:^6. — Name, in their order, the States that seceded 
from the Union ? 

37. — Who were chosen president and vice-presi- 
dent of the Confederate government ? What city 
was chosen as the capital ? 

38. — How was the North prepared to meet this 
crisis ? 



CHAPTER XIV. 

I. — What act of hostility took place immediately 
after the inauguration of Lincoln ? 

2. — What force was called for by the president in 
order to put do"\\Ti the rebellion ? 

3. — What three States now seceded ? 

4.— What important forts and arsenals were cap- 
tured by the Confederates ? 

5. — Where was the first blood shed in the war ? 

6. — Who was appointed commander-in-chief of 
the Federal forces ? 

7.^-How was the trade of the rebels with other 
nations prevented ? 

8. — Where did the first campaign of the war take 
place ? Under what general ? With what success ? 



I 



Questions for Examination. 1 2 1 

9. — What was the first important battle of the 
war, and what its results ? 

10. — Who was appointed to succeed General Scott 
in command of the army of the East ? 

II. — What State in the West was the scene of 
civil war ? 

12. — What State remained neutral in the contest? 

13. — What event almost caused a war with Great 
Britain ? 

14. — How, and by whom was war prevented ? 

15. — Describe the events on the Cumberland 
River. Under whose direction were they ? 

16. — Describe the battle of Pittsburgh Landing, 
or Shiloh Church, as it is sometimes called. 

17. — Who saved Grant's army from defeat ? 

t8. — What able Confederate general was killed in 
this battle ? 

19. — What places on the Mississippi fell into the 
hands of the Federal government in the spring and 
summer of 1862 ? 

20. — What important places were captured by 
General Bumside ? 

21. — \Vho captured New Orleans ? 

22. — What Confederate general invaded Ken- 
tucky, and with what result ? 

23. — Who fought the battle of luka ? 

24. — Describe the battle of Murfreesborough. 

25. — Describe the movements of "Stonewall" 
Jackson in the spring of 1862. 

26. — By what route did McClellan undertake the 
capture of Richmond ? 

27. — What Confederate general kept McClellan 
for a month before Yorktown ? 

28. — At what place were the retreating Confeder- 
ates overtaken ? 

29. — What two undecisive battles were fought 
before Richmond ? 

30. — Who became commander-in-chief of the 
Confederate army after the battle of Fair Oaks ? 



I-- Questions for Examination. 

31. — Name the engagements of the celebrated 
'' Seven Days' Battle." 

T^i. — What was the result of the last of these ? 

T^T^. — What advantage did General Lee take of 
the raising of the siege of Richmond ? 

34. — What disastrous defeat did Pope sustain, 
and what two Federal officers were killed ? 

35. — Describe McClellan's march against Lee, 
and name his \*ictories. 

36. — AMio superseded McClellan in command of 
the Army of the Potomac ? 

37. — Describe the battle of Fredericksburg. 

38. — What important proclamation did the presi- 
dent issue on Januar}- ist, 1S63 ? 

39. — What plan did General Grant adopt for the 
capture of Vicksburg ? 

40. — What battles did he fight prior to laying 
siege to the cit}' ? 

41. — What was the result of the capture of Vicks- 
burg ? 

42. — Give a brief account of the battle of Chicka- 
mauga. Who saved the Federal army from ruin ? 

43. — Give a brief account of the battles of Look- 
out Mountain and Missionar}- Ridge. 

44. — What Confederate general made a raid into 
Indiana and Ohio, and with what result ? 

45. — "Who succeeded Bumside in his command .' 

46. — "\Miat was the result of the battle of Chan- 
cellors\-ille ? 

47, — What able Confederate was killed in this 
battle ? 

48. — Describe Lee's second Northern invasion. 

49. — "\Miat great battle checked it ? 

50. — ^^^lat state was organized during the war ? 

51. — State the result of General Banks' invasion 
of Louisiana. 

52. — Who was appointed commander-in-chief in 
1864, and what two campaigns did he plan ? 

53. — Describe Sherman's operations against Johns- 
ton. 



Questions far Exc:mination. 123 

54. — ^\^lat cin- did Sherman take and bum ? 

55. — How did Hood m- to draw Sherman out of 
Georgia ? 

56. — \\lio defeated Hood at Nash-v-ille ? 

57. — Describe Sherman's ''March to the Sea," 
naming the places that he captured. 

58. — \\Tiat places were captured by Admiral Far- 
ragut ? 

59. — Give a brief account of the battle between 
the Kearsage and the Alabama. 

60. — What battles did Grant's army fight before 
commencing the siege of Richmond ? 

61. — How did Lee try to force Grant to raise the 
siege ? 

62. — "Whom did Grant send into the Shenandoah 
Valley, and with what result ? 

63. — "^Miat was the date of the capmre of Rich- 
mond ? 

64. — "When and where did Lee surrender - ^^llat 
were the conditions ? 

65. — ^^llat sad event occurred about a week after 
Lee's surrender ? 



I 



CHAPTER XV. 

I. — ^\'llo succeeded to the presidency upon Lin- 
coln's death ? 

2. — ^\"hat serious ditSculty did the president find 
himself forced to meet ? 

3. — ^^'hat was the result of the difficulty ? 

4. — "SMiat States were readmitted into the L'nion 
during Johnson's administrarion ? 

5. — What trial took place in 1S68 ? 

6. — ^Miat was the result ? 

7. — ^Mlo was the successful candidate for the 
presidency in 186S ? 

8. — ^^^lat two amendments to the Constitution 
were made pre\'iou5 to Grant's administration : 



1 24 Questions for Examination. 

9. — What two decisions were made against Eng- 
land and in favor of the United States ? 

10. — What difficulties with the Indians occurred 
in 1872 and 1876 ? 

II. — What State was admitted in 1876 ? 

12. — What was the result of the presidential elec- 
tion in 1876 ? How was the difficulty settled ? 

13. — Who was declared to have been elected ? 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 

A DECLARATION BY THE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, IN CONGRESS 
ASSEMBLED, JULY 4, I 7 76. 

When, in the course of human events, it becomes neces- 
sary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have 
connected them with another, and to assume, among the 
powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which 
the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent 
respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should 
declare the causes which impel them to the separation. 

We hold these truths to be self-evident — that all men are 
created equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with 
certain unalienable rights ; that among these are life, liberty, 
and the pursuit of happiness ; that, to secure these rights, 
governments are instituted among men, deriving their just 
powers from the consent of the governed ; that, whenever any 
form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is 
the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute 
a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, 
and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem 
most likely to afifect their safety and happiness. Prudence, 
indeed, will dictate that governments long established should 
not be changed for light and transient causes : and, accord- 
ingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are more dis- 
posed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right them- 
selves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. 
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing in- 
variably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them 
under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty to 
throw off such government, and to provide new guards for 
their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance of 
these colonies, and such is now the necessity which constrains 
them to alter their former systems of government. The his- 
tory of the present King of Great Britain is a history of re- 
peated injuries and usurpations, all having, in direct object, 
the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To 
prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world : 

He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and 
necessary for the public good. 

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate 

125 



126 Declaration of Independence. 

and pressing importanc«, unless suspended in their operation 
till his assent should be obtained ; and, when so suspended, 
he has utterly neglected to attend to them. 

He has refused to pass other laws for the acccmmodation of 
large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish 
the right of representation in the Legislature — a right inesti- 
mable to them, and formidable to tyrants only. 

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, 
uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their pub- 
lic record, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into com- 
pliance with his measures. 

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for op- 
posing, with manly firmness, his invasions on the the rights of 
the people. 

He has refused, for a long time after such dissolutions, to 
cause others to be elected, whereby the legislative powers, in- 
capable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large 
for their exercise ; the state remaining, in the meantime, ex- 
posed to all the danger of invasion from without, and convul- 
sions within. 

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these 
states ; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization 
of foreigners, refusing to pass others to encourage their 
migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropri- 
ations of lands. 

He has obstructed the administration of justice by refusing 
his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers. 

He has made judges dependent on his will alone for the 
tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their 
salaries. 

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither 
swarms of officers to harass our people and eat out their sub- 
stance. 

He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies 
without the consent of our Legislature. 

He has affected to render the military independent of and 
superior to the civil power. 

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction 
foreign to our Constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws, 
giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation : 

For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us : 

For protecting them by a mock trial, from punishment for 
any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of 
these states : 

For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world : 

For imposing taxes on us without our consent : 

For depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by 
jury: 



Declaration of Independence. 127 

For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pre- 
tended offences : 

For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neigh- 
boring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, 
and enlarging its boundaries, so as to render it at once an 
example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute 
rule into these colonies : 

For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable 
laws, and altering fundamentally the powers of our govern- 
ments : 

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring them- 
selves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases what- 
soever. 

He has abdicated government here by declaring us out of his 
protection, and waging war against us. 

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our 
towns, and destroyed the lives of our people. 

He is, at this time, transporting large armies of foreign 
mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation, and 
tyranny already begun, with circumstances of cruelty and per- 
fidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally- 
unworthy the head of a civilized nation. 

He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the 
high seas, to bear arms against their country, to become the 
executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall them- 
selves by their hands. 

He has excited domestic insurrection against us, and has 
endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the 
merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is an 
undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes, and conditions. 

In every stage of these- oppressions, we have petitioned for 
redress in the most humble terms ; our repeated petitions have 
been answered only by repeated injury. A prince whose 
character is thus marked by every act which may define a 
tyrant is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. 

Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British 
brethren. We have warned them, from time to time, of at- 
tempts made by their Legislature to extend an unwarrantable 
jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circum- 
stances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed 
to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured 
them, by the ties of our common kindred, to disavow these 
usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections 
and correspondence. They, too, have been deaf to the voice 
of justice and consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce 
in the necessity which denounces our separation, and hold 
them, as we hold the rest of mankind — enemies in war, in peace, 
friends. 



128 Declaration of Independence. 

We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of 
America, in General Congress assembled, appealing to the 
Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our inten- 
tions, do, in the name and by the authority of the good peo- 
ple of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare that these 
United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and inde- 
pendent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to 
the British crown, and that all political connection between 
them and the state of Great Britain is, and ought to be, 
totally dissolved ; and that, as free and independent states, 
they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract 
alliances, establish commerce, and do all other acts and things 
which independent states may of right do. And for the sup- 
port of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection 
of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our 
lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor. 

John Hancock. 

New Hampshire. — Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Mat- 
thew Thornton. 

Massachtisetts Bay. — Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert 
Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry. 

Rhode Island. — Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery. 

Co7inectictit . — Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William 
Williams, Oliver Wolcott, 

N'ew York. — William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis 
Lewis, Lewis Morris. 

New Jersey. — Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Fran- 
cis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark. 

Pennsylvania. — Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin 
Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George 
Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross. 

Delaware. — Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas M'Kean. 

Maryland. — Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, 
Charles Carroll, of Carrollton. 

Virginia. — George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas 
Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis 
Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton. 

North Carolina. — William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John 
Penn. 

South Carolina, — Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr , 
Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton. 

Georgia. — Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




